Ross Sheil, Staff WriterON THE day Scotland Yard detective Mark Shields began work as Assistant Commis-sioner in the Jamaica Constab-ulary Force (JCF), British Deputy High Commissioner Phil Sinkinson offered his country's commitment to the force as well as its Corporate Strategy and reform process.
He called for improvements across the criminal justice system, greater cooperation between government agencies and expanded operations to tackle crime. He was speaking on behalf of High Commissioner Peter Mathers at the launch of the JCF Corporate Strategy held at the Police Officers' Club on Old Hope Road, St. Andrew on Tuesday.
"It has been well documented that the high level of violent crime is perhaps the single greatest break on Jamaica's growth and development," he said. "At the national level, it deters investors and adds to the cost of doing business."
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Mr. Sinkinson noted that violent crime was perhaps the biggest barrier to Jamaica's growth and development by deterring investors and reducing the social and economic opportunities of individuals.
"No country can survive under that burden," he stated, referring to World Bank statistics for 2001 that put the direct cost of crime and violence at 3.7 per cent of Jamaica's national output and the indirect cost at 14 per cent.
Government needs to expand its operations into, "communities characterised by violence and controlled by criminal gangs, and to make broader efforts to tackle social exclusion and inequity," he said.
The situation requires, "all government ministries to work together" in hand with the private sector, the public and international partners, Mr. Sinkinson said.
The JCF reform process was important in tackling crime as it was the "single most important and the single most visible institution of the criminal justice sector," he said.
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS
While 'significant progress' had been made in improving JCF operations he said it was acknowledged that, "much work remains to be done."
He promised commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas the continuing support of the British government.
Mr Thomas thanked the British government for its assistance in police operations.
"I must pause to say a special thank you to the British High Commission for the significant assistance given to us through the Department for International Development (DFID)," the commissioner said.
"Accomplishments such as capacity building, improvement in process, systems, professionalism and the rationalisation of functions were critical to the reform of the Jamaica Constab-ulary Force."
