Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin has reassigned more than 280 members of the police force in what appears to be the biggest shake-up in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The changes will affect 32 members of the officer corps and 43 inspectors.

"This is one of the biggest transfers I have seen in my time," said an assistant commissioner, who spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday.

The list of transfers was published yesterday in the JCF Force Orders and among some of the popular officers reassigned are Superintendent Delroy Hewitt, who has been transferred from Kingston West to Area Four Headquarters, while the Commanding Officer for Kingston Central, Superintendent Millicent Sproul-Thomas, will be going to Community Safety and Security.

Former Police Federation Chairman, Deputy Superintendent Neville Knight, will be transferred from Motorised Patrol to St Andrew Central, while Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) William Christie said goodbye to St Andrew South and has moved on to Area Four headquarters.

Also on the list was DSP Stephen Moodie from the Firearms and Use of Force Task Force, to Operations Branch (Control).

The mass transfers came less than three months after Commissioner Lewin promoted more than 1,000 members of the police force. A significant number of policemen and women who had desk-bound duties have been transferred to divisions islandwide.

This was a move made by the Government several years ago - to flood the streets with more police.

Contacted yesterday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Major Richard Reece, explained that a number of administrative posts in the JCF would now be filled by civilians.

"These include the Legal Medical Unit, Transport and Repairs, the Forensic Laboratory and Stores and Armoury," said Major Reece.