THE EDITOR, Sir:
INCREASING THE size of our police force has been an annual exercise provided recruit training capacity could exceed annual manpower losses. Provided this happened, every two years a new manpower target called the "establishment" was set and approved.
So this new 12,000-man establishment is hype. All that's being done is expanding training capacity to overcome manpower loss and accelerating "establishment" targets.
Without more, a 12,000-man force will make only a marginal difference. Our government should get higher qualifications, better pay and direct entry into an elite national investigative service; create a paramilitary strike force with its air wing to combat heavily armed criminals and a National Intelligence Service proposed by Mr. Seaga, unconstrained by all the restrictive organisational influence of our police.
STRIKE FORCE RESOURCES
Most of the resources of the strike force would come from the JDF and Mobile Reserve and many of the intelligence staff from the fields of logic, forensic science, mathematics, physics, psychology and information technology.
The JCF should stop trying to be all things to all people and rebuild its foundations and its mission on community policing at relocated police stations situated to serve communities; to investigate minor crimes and winning hearts, minds, territory and public trust which is growing.
It's not more of the same, Dr. Phillips, but quality supported by major or structural re-engineering of our police and of policing, that is needed. Fundamental reforms of our institutions have been the legacy of the intellectual traditions of the PNP. It's diminishing under the weight of window dressing and incremental tinkering.
I am, etc.,
HAROLD CROOKS
St. Catherine
