Prime Minister Andrew Holness has directed the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to review its protocols for assisting injured persons and removing deceased individuals from crime scenes, saying the issue will be discussed at the National Security Council.
Holness said the Government must ensure that stronger standards of professionalism, compassion and accountability are reflected in how victims and their families are treated.
“If necessary, protocols have to be established about how you remove the deceased from crime scenes or assist injured persons. These are matters that have to be looked into,” the Prime Minister said.
“We’re trying to build an economy; we are trying to build a society, but more importantly, we are building a civilisation. How we treat our injured, our most vulnerable, weakest amongst us, how we treat the remains of the deceased tells us a lot about the kind of civilisation we have,” he added.
Holness made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the 91st Cohort graduation exercise for the JCF Staff and Junior Command Course at the National Police College of Jamaica in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, on May 22.
The Prime Minister congratulated the graduating officers and encouraged them to maintain high standards of professionalism, perseverance and service to the Jamaican people.
While commending the JCF for the continued decline in murders and violent crime, Holness reminded officers that their core responsibility remains the protection and preservation of life.
He also highlighted the increasingly important regional role being played by Jamaican law enforcement officers in supporting neighbouring Caribbean countries in tackling transnational organised crime.
Holness referenced a recent visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands, where he said Jamaican officers were praised for helping to improve security conditions and strengthen investor confidence.
According to the Prime Minister, Jamaica has developed crime-fighting systems and strategies that can now be shared with other countries facing similar security challenges.
He further stressed that Jamaica’s continued investment in national security is directly linked to economic growth and development, arguing that safer communities create an environment that supports business expansion, job creation and improved living standards.
