'Corruption high among senior cops'
May 09, 2006
MEMBERS OF different ranks throughout the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) believe that the majority of their senior officers are corrupt or are tolerant of corruption within the force, according to a report by the Special Task Force on Crime (STFC).
The STFC, headed by Colonel Trevor MacMillan, former commissioner of police, was convened by Leader of the Opposition, Bruce Golding, last December, and was charged with developing an action plan on crime.
The STFC report was made public yesterday.
The report stated that corruption in the police force was endemic and institutionalised. Through interviews conducted with select members of the force, the SCTF determined that some of the corrupt practices which have become endemic in the JCF are:
Payoffs of road traffic offences.
Sale of gun licences.
Advising criminals of planned police interdiction.
Removing evidence from crime scenes.
Contract killing.
Stealing evidence.
Planting evidence.
The STFC stated that corruption "facilitates serious crimes and endemic corruption ensures the freedom of action to build powerful and successful criminal enterprises."
The report stated that an effective crime control policy must address these issues of corruption.
The STFC suggested that greater efforts should also be made to remove political influence from the force, by stripping the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader of any say in the selection of a police commissioner.
Members of the STFC...
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
