Newly appointed Assistant Commissioner of Police Justin Felice.

KINGSTON:

A Whistle-blower policy and receiving support from Jamaican communities are among the objectives of newly appointed head of the Anti Corruption Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Justin Felice, in his first 12 months in office.

ACP Felice, who is the latest in a line of overseas cops, comes to Jamaica with a background of over 30 years experience working in England and Northern Ireland. He held his first press conference on Monday, at the Old Hope Road office of the Commissioner of Police.

"I bring with me past skills, experience of investigating the most difficult of crimes - police corruption. What I want to do is develop the Anti Corruption Branch within the JCF to make sure it has the strength and ability to investigate allegations of corruption," he told journalists.

Code of silence

ACP Felice, while not giving exact dates or details regarding the implementation, said the whistle-blowers policy would be effective in breaking the code of silence among the public and the JCF.

He said that while the general consensus was that Jamaica suffers from endemic corruption that has spread throughout the system and has become institutionalised in the Jamaican police force, he would not only be paying lip service to the cause of anti-corruption but investigating whoever comes before him.

"My message is clear. Unethical or corrupt behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated within the police force. Integrity in policing is non-negotiable."

ACP Felice in his presentation also called on members of the public and the JCF to assist in fighting corruption. The new ACP has a three-year contract and his appointment is part of the restructuring of the Professional Standards Branch of the JCF.

- Mark Beckford