The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has significantly strengthened its ability to respond to domestic violence incidents through the successful training of 24 police personnel in the Domestic Violence Train-the-Trainer Course.
Over the course of five weeks, the inaugural cohort of law officers underwent comprehensive training.
These officers were carefully selected from police divisions three to five, as well as from the Chaplin Services Branch, the Community Safety and Security Branch, and the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA).
Training topics covered
The training covered a diverse range of topics, including the psychology of self, training development, fundamental concepts in gender-based and domestic violence, and an in-depth study of relevant laws and supporting regulations.
The aim of this training is to equip participants to develop training sessions at their respective divisions and instruct their fellow officers on effective ways to handle reports of domestic violence.
A crucial resource for the officers, the Domestic Violence Handbook, was distributed to each participant, as well as to the divisional branches of the force. This handbook was made possible through the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
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A promising future: New Domestic Violence Training Manual
During the graduation ceremony at the National Police College of Jamaica (NPCJ) in St. Catherine on Friday, July 21, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jacqueline Dillon shared that a new Domestic Violence Training Manual is currently under development.
The manual aims to enhance the police force’s ability to address this crime more effectively.
Elizabeth Talbert, the representative for the UNFPA for the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, delivered remarks during the ceremony, drawing attention to the staggering prevalence of gender-based violence, with one in every four persons affected.
Talbert commended the course participants and encouraged them to use the knowledge gained during the training to provide assistance to domestic violence victims.
“This training has prepared you to be able to assist victims and [work with] perpetrators…it has prepared you to be able to train others to address this issue,” she said.
The Domestic Violence Train-the-Trainer Course was facilitated by the JCF’s Domestic Violence Intervention Centre, with vital funding support from the United Nations (UN) Spotlight Initiative—a program dedicated to eradicating violence against women and girls.
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