44 cops among 64 arrested for corruption

A total of 64 persons, including 44 police officers, were arrested by the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) between January and September this year for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act.

Over the period the ACB received 390 reports, 243 of which were corruption related. The branch's 1-800-CORRUPT line accounted for 32 per cent of the reports, while written correspondence, telephone calls, persons attending the ACB and electronic mail accounted for 11, five, four and one per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, by the end of September, 62 cops were not permitted to re-enlist while another seven were dismissed for breaches of the Corruption Act. Up to September 30, 52 persons had been charged for corruption, 18 of them civilians.

"Clearly, our efforts to get individuals involved in the process of cleansing the force are not falling on deaf ears," said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Justin Felice, who heads the ACB. "Police personnel as well as civilians are now more aware of their duty to report these incidents to the ACB, who will then conduct the necessary investigations. But the process starts with concerned individuals who have the best interest of the organisation at the forefront of their minds."

The ACB, besides carrying out investigation and arrest for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, has also taken a proactive approach in their fight against corruption by sensitising its members and the public on corruption and ethical related issues — a two-tier strategy to combat corruption within the JCF.

Eighty-eight lectures and presentations were conducted by the division between January 1 and September 30 to more than 2,700 police officers over 2,600 civilians.

"This is another approach in our efforts to clamp down on corruption within the Jamaica Constabulary Force," said ACP Felice, explaining that the sensitisation is done simultaneously with other strategies, all aimed at reducing the incidence of corruption to improve transparency in the organisation.

"By sensitising members of the public, citizens become more aware of their responsibilities as it relates to helping to shape an organisation that is working on their behalf, an organisation they can be proud of," he said.

"Our efforts to rid this organisation of members who are determined to discredit it, will not be foiled," ACP Felice warned.