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Police overhaul
Three units being merged into Transnational Crime and Narcotics Division
BY KARYL WALKER Co-ordinator Crime/Court Desk walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, July 03, 2009
Three of the police force's major units are being merged in what the top brass say is a move to strengthen the constabulary's structure and organisation to respond more effectively to the international connections being established by criminals in Jamaica.
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| ELLINGTON... several organisational changes have been implemented to strengthen our capabilities |
According to Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Crime and Operations portfolios, Owen Ellington, the Narcotics Division, Major Investigation Task Force and Operation Kingfish will be merged to become part of the new Transnational Crime and Narcotics Division.
"Several organisational changes have been implemented to strengthen our capabilities in the area of force structure and organisation," Ellington told journalists at a news conference at Eden Gardens in St Andrew yesterday.
"Among these are the creation of the Transnational Crime and Narcotics Division to broaden the focus of the old Narcotics Division to take the lead in prosecuting all criminal activities which transcend national borders," he said.
In addition, the Crime and Operations portfolios will be combined in a bid to get better co-ordination of both areas along with intelligence, community safety and territorial policing.
A Future Operations Policing Unit has also been added to the Operations Branch. The unit will assist with planning support to police divisions and units tackling the lotto scam, extortion and the involvement of major criminal networks in praedial larceny.
"We have seen where criminal gangs have been taking trucks and going into rural areas and load them with livestock and produce," said Ellington. "This new trend is something that some rural police stations have a hard time dealing with."
The police high command have also set up a Communication Intelligence Unit and a Digital Forensics Sub Unit to bolster the National Intelligence Bureau. Officers who will man the units have been trained to provide support to detectives in locating and developing evidence when communication technology is used to commit crimes.
Seventy-five cops have also been assigned to the resurrected Beat and Foot Patrol Unit which will operate from the patrol division at Elletson Road Police Station.
"It will provide support to the Metro Division in pressure points such as plazas, markets, bus stops, transport centres, cash centres and major recreation areas," said Ellington. "This is going to be operated day and night."
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