LOCAL ADVOCACY groups, Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) and the Independent Jamaican Council for Human Rights (IJCHR) have taken issue with aspects of the Government's strategic review of the police force.

In a joint statement, issued yesterday, JFJ and the IJCHR said while they support a comprehensive review of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, they are concerned that representatives from human rights groups were not included on the eight-member panel named by Government.

"We note with concern the absence from the panel of any civilian Jamaican experts on criminology, human rights and policing. We note with deep concern that the plans for the review and the outlined plans for collaboration do not specifically mention consultation with the broad public who feel the effects of poor policing," the statement read.

Consult with groups

The groups are calling on the review panel to consult with human rights organisations and women's and children's advocacy groups when examining the extent of police abuse.

National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, introduced the eight-member review panel on Tuesday during a press conference. The panel will be chaired by Dr. Herbert Thompson, president of Northern Caribbean University, and includes four foreigners.

JFJ and the IJCHR have been two of the most vocal critics of alleged police attacks on citizens in the last decade.