Jamaican Police.Com

The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Anti-Corruption Branch is reportedly at this time investigating several members of the JCF (including a senior policeman), who are all suspects in a major police records fraud. According to reports, a recent investigation has highlighted several deficiencies in the integrity of the police certificate process, where it was possible for criminals (through fraudulent means) to use the police records of law-abiding citizens in order to carry out major identify theft, apply for firearms licences and make visa applications.

The police who are being investigated are suspected of giving police records to people of questionable character. As a result of the investigation, the United States Embassy and local authorities have reportedly implemented several new security measures. Among those measures is the splitting of the Automated Finger Identification System (ASIF) database, and a requirement by the US Embassy for visa applicants who had applied for police records prior to June to renew the documents.

With the splitting of the ASIF database, anyone who was convicted of a crime would now have their fingerprints and other data placed on a criminal records database. Prior to this being done, the police could not match a person’s application, thus opening the possibility for criminals to use fraudulent police certificates to apply for firearms, jobs or United States visas.

As a result of the deficiencies in the old system, the US Embassy has now made a decision that it will not accept the old police certificate, and has now asked current applicants to renew certificates that were granted prior to June 2010.

Tags : ASIF Database, Automated Finger Identification System, Jamaica Police Record, Police Records, Police Records Fraud, Police Records Office