Court Rules That Retired Police Are Allowed On Boards Of Enquiry
The Special Constabulary Force Association has failed in its attempt to get orders from the Judicial Review Court to bar the commissioner of police from including retired police officers on a board of enquiry.
Supreme Court Judge Donald McIntosh, in handing down the ruling yesterday, said it was a good thing to have retired police officers on the board because they were familiar with the system … more here [Gleaner Report]
Tags : Retired Police Jamaica
Force Orders Update – Commissioner Puts Police On Election Alert
In the latest JCF Force Orders issued yesterday, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington has told the police to be on election alert. Although not constitutionally due until December 2012, speculation is rife that the ruling Jamaica Labour Party Government will call General Elections soon.
In the Force Orders issued yesterday, Commissioner Ellington stated: “Commencing immediately, the Representation of the People Act and the Public Order Act must form the subject of lectures for the next eight weeks and the names of all persons who attend forwarded to area headquarters. Selection, vetting and training of special district constables must also be a priority over the next eight weeks.”
Commissioner Ellington also highlighted that members of the security forces are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that law and order is maintained at all political and public meetings leading up to the general election: “Once nomination day is announced, all meetings conducted by politicians leading up to election day are dubbed political meetings and the full extent of the Public Order Act must be applied … Polling stations are manned by presiding officers, poll clerks and other election-day workers who should be properly identified on election day. Their security must be guaranteed by the security forces for them to carry out their functions in an effective and efficient manner … If a person misconducts himself in a polling station, or fails to obey the lawful orders of the presiding officer, he may immediately, by order of the presiding officer, be removed from the polling station by a police constable.“
Tags : Election Alert Jamaica, Force Orders Jamaica, JCF Force Orders, Owen Ellington
Force Orders Update – Commissioner Warns Police Who Illegally Ticket Motorists Involved In Accidents With The Police
In the latest Jamaica Constabulary Force Orders issued yesterday, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington warned members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) who have reportedly been charging or ticketing motorists who were involved in accidents with other police, often before the investigation to determine the guilty party is complete. This comes just months after amendments to the regulations governing how accidents involving police vehicles should be handled.
The Commissioner stated: “It has come to notice that since the modification of the procedures regarding the investigation of accidents involving force vehicles, there has been an increase in the number of persons involved in accidents with police vehicles being charged/ticketed for breaches of the Road Traffic Act immediately after the accident.”
“From all appearances, this practice represents an effort by police officers to place blame for the accident on the other party to the accident …. This practice must cease forthwith. On no occasion must the other party in an accident involving a police vehicle be charged before the ruling of the clerk of courts is obtained.”
Commissioner Ellington also reiterated the commands that were issued in June this year “regarding the procedures for investigation of accidents involving force vehicles”. Among other things, the force orders clearly stated that members of the police force involved in a crash must be breathalysed within four hours of the accident or as soon as possible within a 24-hour window.
The JCF orders also outlined that the “responsibility for the proper investigation of an accident involving a force vehicle rests with the officer in charge of the division where the accident has occurred”. It also noted that “every accident involving a force vehicle must be investigated by a sub-officer not below the rank of sergeant.
“Each accident will be reported within 24 hours to the commissioner of police, deputy commissioner of police, inspectorate of constabulary, the assistant commissioner of police in charge Services Branch, senior superintendent of police in charge Traffic Division and superintendent of police in charge Transport and Repairs Division, and the damaged unit immediately taken out of service,” read another section of the force orders.
Tags : Owen Ellington, Traffic Ticket Jamaica
INDECOM Commissioner Complains About Anonymous Police Officers
Report in today’s Gleaner newspaper: Speaking yesterday at a Rotary Club of New Kingston breakfast at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, TERRENCE WILLIAMS, commissioner of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), gave key recommendations to the Jamaica Constabulary Force to properly identify lawmen carrying out their duties … more here
Tags : INDECOM, INDECOM Commissioner, INDECOM Jamaica
Rev. Charles Dufor Reappointed Chairman Of Police (Civilian Oversight) Authority
The Most Rev. Charles Dufor, DD, CD, archbishop of Kingston, has been reappointed as a member and Chairman of the Police (Civilian Oversight) Authority for a period of five years (until August 22, 2016).
The instrument of appointment was given at King’s House by the Governor General of Jamaica on September 27, 2011, under section 3(1) of the Police (Civilian Oversight) Authority Act, which provides for the establishment of the Police (Civilian Oversight) Authority, and for the appointment of a chairman.
Tags : Charles Dufor, Charles Dufor Jamaica, Police Civilian Oversight Authority, Police Civilian Oversight Authority Jamaica