Senior government sources are reporting that after less than two years in the job, Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin is on his way out.

Since last week, reports have surfaced that the Government has lost confidence in Lewin and wants a new commissioner named by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

There has been no official word from the Bruce Golding administration but sources point to a late-evening meeting involving the prime minister and PSC head, Professor Gordon Shirley, last week. The PSC also met with Lewin.

Prof Shirley has confirmed the meeting with Lewin but told The Gleaner this was not unusual, as the PSC has been meeting more frequently because of the concerns about the high level of crime.

According to him, the PSC had no specific discussions about succession plans for the police force, nor have they talked about the rumoured pending leadership change.

But up to late yesterday afternoon government sources were adamant that it was not a matter of if, but when, Lewin would be replaced.

PSC's decision

However, the government sources noted that any decision to replace Lewin has to be made by the PSC, which is the body mandated to hire and fire members of the police force.

Lewin appeared to have noticed the storm clouds gathering over his head when he went on the offensive last week, while arguing that there was need for a comprehensive plan from the political directorate to tame the crime monster.

He also claimed that there were many people who would love to see his back.

"Not everybody like what I do or how I do what I do. Their reasons are their own. They have never communicated that to me ... maybe I am standing in their way," Lewin said.

"Should the Police Service Commission or the prime minister have any issue with me or my leadership, then by just a simple statement that there are issues, my professional response would be to step aside and make room for somebody else," Lewin added.

Modernising the force

The former army man has led the police force since December 2007, when he replaced Lucius Thomas on a three-year contract.

He has been leading a process to modernise the force while attempting to stamp out corruption among its members.

But it is in the area of crime fighting where he has most of his detractors, who point to the more than 1,000 murders committed since the start of the year and the increase in other major crimes as signs that Lewin has failed.