Robert Davies, Contributor 
Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas (centre) addresses journalists during a press conference at his Old Hope Road, St. Andrew, office on October 6, while Mark Shields (right), deputy commissioner of police and Linval Bailey, acting deputy commissioner of police, look on. Mr. Thomas held the press briefing to address the controversial police operation in Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, on Tuesday October 4. - Norman Grindley/ Deputy Chief Photographer
DOCTOR GARTH Rattray raised some interesting and familiar points in his article 'British Cops and beyond' (Gleaner, October 4). It is worth exploring his comments further. I acted as the United Kingdom's team leader of the aid programme funded by the Department of International Development to help Francis Forbes and his team modernise the police between 2001 and March 2003. More recently I have been working closely with many American, Canadian, Dutch and Italian police officers in Iraq. I have had the opportunity to reflect upon the type of support offered to Jamaica in the past and particularly during the time I spent in Kingston.
The homicide and violent crime perpetrated in Jamaica continues to horrify me. I read The Gleaner daily. My heart cries out for the suffering of so many victims. I remain full of admiration for the officers, human rights groups, justice organisations and members of the public, who despite the atrocities, get engaged in trying to make Jamaica a safer place. I miss the country, friends and colleagues greatly.
SUCCESSFUL POLICING
I warned Dr. Peter Phillips when I returned that it was dangerous to set as his mark on the success of the police the reduction of the homicide rate. That depends upon so many political and social factors way outside the influence of the police. I suggested instead that he should have focused on the level of confidence and trust built up between the public, the police and the justice system. It is equally dangerous today for your readers to judge the impact of Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields and the other British officers, who, I understand, are coming soon, on the homicide rate.
Successful policing depends upon the way the police serve the public, not the other way round. The purpose of policing is to help create safe and confident communities. By safe communities I mean communities with low levels of crime, fear and disorder, where crimes are properly investigated, and cleared up, where the communities support and involve each other; and where the police response is sensitive, caring and professional. By confident communities I mean communities where justice flourishes, where there is a high level of trust in the criminal justice systems, where communities do not feel isolated, and where the communities are actively involved in tackling the causes of crime. This cannot be achieved by the police alone. I agree with Dr. Rattray that a much more holistic approach is needed. Jon Bright, in Turning the Tide, develops a framework for action based on early childhood prevention, developing opportunities for young people and creating safer neighbourhoods. It is a brilliant practical book.
I was inspired by a presentation given by the Rev. Dr Burchel Taylor, pastor, Bethel Baptist Church at the national launch of the Jamaica Association of Christian Peace Officers, on Sunday June 17, 2001. It was the very best talk on community policing I have ever heard by anyone and I made detailed notes of what he said. He talked about the importance of peacemaking. He emphasised, in a dynamic way, that being a peace maker means something that is active, transformative, liberating and re-creative. "If you are going to be a peacemaker you are a maker, a doer. Being a peacemaker means you are engaged in transformative action. Being a peacemaker means that you are an emancipator you are engaged in liberative action; and being a peacemaker means that you are in re-creative action." This approach is fully compatible with the British model of policing, which offers much in the development of safe and confident communities and in the expansion of community policing.
BRITISH POLICING
AMONG THE BEST
The British model is strong also in running a democratic policing organisation effectively. It can share its experience of accountability, intelligence gathering and forensic science development in a way that other countries cannot match and which leads other countries to visit New Scotland Yard and Oxford on a regular basis. These issues lie at the heart of successful policing and need to nourished, developed and openly debated. From a distance, some, but not enough, progress appears to have made.
Other models have much to offer in other ways. In Iraq I found the focus not on developing policing but on creating an 'assault brigade', badged as 'police', but comprising almost entirely of former soldiers wearing a blue camouflage outfit. In Iraq, the effect of the British contribution has been limited, focusing on helping the Iraqi Police develop a modern intelligence system, reintroducing some forensic science capability as a means of identifying terrorists and providing some excellent training provision at the police academies. The Americans lean much more towards the armed experiences of the Caribinieri in an attempt to secure advice on how to fight the war. I went to Rome and looked at the experience of this force. They have much to offer, although they too have no experience of the Iraq situation. I had two senior Canadian police officers as colleagues. They were brilliant and contributed far more than I could in developing the forensic and firearm capabilities of the police and commandoes. They, too, have the best 'on line police university' I have seen.
The key issues facing the Iraq police, in my opinion, after the war against the insurgencies is over, remain the development of a vision and structure for policing, the accountability of the police, the establishment of trust and leadership development. Each of these issues goes to the heart of the organisation and if developed well will enable other aspects of performance to improve.
SHARING EXPERIENCES
I always said in Jamaica that policing is about sharing experiences and ideas across the world. You are seeking I know help from a range of countries. The UK does what it can and is a generous supporter of the Jamaica Constabulary. I regret that the long term nature of the support needed is subject too often to political choices and competing demands for support from other countries. Be wary, however, of those who do not see the transferability of many of the British skills. Encourage instead, as I am sure Dr Rattray is doing, other countries to get engaged.
It is difficult to identify where can you most effectively secure operational deployment advice most suitable for the garrisons in Jamaica. The American model has not been too transferable in Iraq. The level of attrition is too great; the weaponry too heavy. The Generals in Iraq have been attracted to the deployment practices sharpened in Northern Ireland between the army and the police. These tactics have also been shared in the past in Jamaica. You have much experience of joint patrolling to share with others. Here again the problems in the past have been about the quality of leadership displayed on such patrols, the primacy or otherwise of police over the JDF and the accountability of such operations. These are issues very familiar to the British police.
There is a huge gap in International Policing in gathering 'what works' in different environments and social settings. Data bases are almost non existent. There is scope for the development of such a data base. Maybe this is something the University of the West Indies could consider.
There is still much mileage to be achieved from the JCF focusing on how it manages itself, making performance visible, improving its intelligence data bases, enhancing its forensic capabilities, developing an effective process of accountability and growing its leadership capabilities. The UK officers on secondment will play their part. It is worth also trying to secure the services of officers from other forces, notably the Carabinieri and Canada and if you have the patience, even turning to some old friends seeking out their retirement!
Robert Davies was a former consultant from the UK working on security issues.
