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The JLP's crime plan
Inside the manifestos
Friday, August 17, 2007
THE Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says the safety of the nation will be its "most urgent priority" if it forms the next government.
In its recently released manifesto, the party says that "too much of our energy is being devoured by the ever-present fear for our own safety".
"The goals we outline in this Manifesto for economic growth and job creation can only be achieved if there is a drastic reduction in crime and a return to a peaceful, orderly society," the JLP emphasised.
Among the party's plans are to:
. Increase the strength of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to 12,000.
. Provide special training in civilian law enforcement for members of the Jamaica Defence Force to better equip them to assist the police when called upon and to be able to do so with full regard for the rights of citizens.
. Establish a Police Reserve similar to the JDF Reserve drawn from civilians whose character and suitability have been verified to assist the Police especially at the community level.
. Intensify the graduate entry and accelerated promotion programmes to improve the quality of management of the Force.
. Improve training in investigation techniques and crime scene management.
. Improve forensic capability by providing appropriate technology and training and recruiting the necessary expertise.
. Establish a National Intelligence Agency with appropriate technology and expertise to collate, analyse and disseminate intelligence data as a critical tool in the prevention and detection of crime and apprehension of criminals.
. Establish a National Identification System to improve police surveillance and detection capabilities and protect law-abiding citizens.
. Design a five-year programme for the rehabilitation of police stations islandwide.
. Make annual budgetary provisions for the timely replacement of police vehicles and equipment.
. Construct residential complexes at strategic locations for police personnel to ensure that they are within commutable distance of their station assignment.
. Strengthen the powers of the Commissioner of Police to discipline (including dismiss) members of the Force to enable him or her to weed out corrupt and non-performing members and then hold him/her responsible for their conduct and performance. Provision will be made for appeals to the Police Service Commission against the decisions of the Commissioner of Police.
. Restructure the Police Public Complaints Authority into an independent investigative authority to investigate all cases of police abuse or excess.
. Strengthen the human rights component of the curriculum of the Police Academy to ensure that police graduates are sensitised to their duty to respect the rights of citizens and are fully aware that they will be held responsible for their actions.
. Provide more intensive on-duty supervision of new recruits to ensure that their conduct conforms to the training received.
The party also plans to transform garrison communities. Among the steps it plans to take are:
. Enact into law the relevant provisions of the Code of Political Conduct with appropriate criminal penalties.
. Amend Section 40(2)(g) of the Constitution to include provision that any person convicted under the above enactment will be automatically disqualified for such time, as determined by the Court, from contesting any election or continuing to hold any elected office.
. The Political Ombudsman will be required to monitor the conduct and activities of political representatives especially in garrison constituencies and report to Parliament. He will also be entitled to refer any matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
. Any report made to Parliament by the Political Ombudsman which reflects negatively on the conduct of any elected official may constitute grounds for impeachment and removal from office.
. Contractors to be registered with the National Contracts Commission will be required to produce satisfactory criminal records.
"Contractors who engage subcontractors with criminal records involving conviction for gun-related or violent crime will be removed from the register of contractors," the party emphasised.
The party also plans to increase surveillance at ports of entry and along coastlines to detect and stop the inflow of illegal guns.
"The JLP also plans to intensify the programme of community policing to build strategic partnerships between communities and the police in ridding the communities of crime," the party states.
Inside the manifestos
Friday, August 17, 2007
THE Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says the safety of the nation will be its "most urgent priority" if it forms the next government.
In its recently released manifesto, the party says that "too much of our energy is being devoured by the ever-present fear for our own safety".
"The goals we outline in this Manifesto for economic growth and job creation can only be achieved if there is a drastic reduction in crime and a return to a peaceful, orderly society," the JLP emphasised.
Among the party's plans are to:
. Increase the strength of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to 12,000.
. Provide special training in civilian law enforcement for members of the Jamaica Defence Force to better equip them to assist the police when called upon and to be able to do so with full regard for the rights of citizens.
. Establish a Police Reserve similar to the JDF Reserve drawn from civilians whose character and suitability have been verified to assist the Police especially at the community level.
. Intensify the graduate entry and accelerated promotion programmes to improve the quality of management of the Force.
. Improve training in investigation techniques and crime scene management.
. Improve forensic capability by providing appropriate technology and training and recruiting the necessary expertise.
. Establish a National Intelligence Agency with appropriate technology and expertise to collate, analyse and disseminate intelligence data as a critical tool in the prevention and detection of crime and apprehension of criminals.
. Establish a National Identification System to improve police surveillance and detection capabilities and protect law-abiding citizens.
. Design a five-year programme for the rehabilitation of police stations islandwide.
. Make annual budgetary provisions for the timely replacement of police vehicles and equipment.
. Construct residential complexes at strategic locations for police personnel to ensure that they are within commutable distance of their station assignment.
. Strengthen the powers of the Commissioner of Police to discipline (including dismiss) members of the Force to enable him or her to weed out corrupt and non-performing members and then hold him/her responsible for their conduct and performance. Provision will be made for appeals to the Police Service Commission against the decisions of the Commissioner of Police.
. Restructure the Police Public Complaints Authority into an independent investigative authority to investigate all cases of police abuse or excess.
. Strengthen the human rights component of the curriculum of the Police Academy to ensure that police graduates are sensitised to their duty to respect the rights of citizens and are fully aware that they will be held responsible for their actions.
. Provide more intensive on-duty supervision of new recruits to ensure that their conduct conforms to the training received.
The party also plans to transform garrison communities. Among the steps it plans to take are:
. Enact into law the relevant provisions of the Code of Political Conduct with appropriate criminal penalties.
. Amend Section 40(2)(g) of the Constitution to include provision that any person convicted under the above enactment will be automatically disqualified for such time, as determined by the Court, from contesting any election or continuing to hold any elected office.
. The Political Ombudsman will be required to monitor the conduct and activities of political representatives especially in garrison constituencies and report to Parliament. He will also be entitled to refer any matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
. Any report made to Parliament by the Political Ombudsman which reflects negatively on the conduct of any elected official may constitute grounds for impeachment and removal from office.
. Contractors to be registered with the National Contracts Commission will be required to produce satisfactory criminal records.
"Contractors who engage subcontractors with criminal records involving conviction for gun-related or violent crime will be removed from the register of contractors," the party emphasised.
The party also plans to increase surveillance at ports of entry and along coastlines to detect and stop the inflow of illegal guns.
"The JLP also plans to intensify the programme of community policing to build strategic partnerships between communities and the police in ridding the communities of crime," the party states.
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