Jamaica to benefit from improved community policing

Jamaica is set to explore different approaches to community policing through a trilateral partnership between the Governments of Jamaica, the Federative Republic of Brazil and Japan. The partnership is intended to complement the model used by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) and Military Police of the State of Sao Paulo (PMESP) will be working with the government of Jamaica for the implementation of the ‘Jamaica Capacity Building on the Community Policing-KOBAN System’.

In delivering remarks at the signing ceremony for the trilateral partnership held at the Ministry of National Security in Kingston today (March 1), Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Alison Stone Roofe emphasised that “the Ministry of National Security fully supports the goal of this partnership”.

She further highlighted that, “improved community policing across the island will complement the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations and Special Security and Community Development Measures) Act 2017 in Jamaica”.

The Law Reform Act 2017 is intended to provide special measures for upholding and preserving the rule of law, public order, citizen security and public safety within certain geographically defined areas in Jamaica.

The Permanent Secretary added that “there is need to provide community development in these geographical areas to reduce rampant criminality, gang warfare, escalating violence, murder and the general threat to public order” and as such this trilateral partnership will strengthen community policing which will in turn aid community development.

Training of the first cohort commences this month (March 2024) – with fifteen members of the JCF spending a two-week period in Brazil.

Last year, a pre-training course assessment delegation comprising of five representatives from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Ministry of National Security and the Planning Institute of Jamaica, travelled to Brazil and returned to Jamaica in October 2023. The trip was fully funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

JICA, ABC and PMESP signed an agreement in 2011 to jointly cooperate in the organisation of the International Training Course for Community Police Multipliers-KOBAN System.