Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington has chided personnel under his command for turning away people wishing to make reports at various police stations.

Commissioner Ellington says there are too many complaints of persons being told they should visit or call other stations because these reports are being made at the wrong station.

In this week’s Force Orders, Commissioner Ellington stressed that the practice is incorrect as there is one police jurisdiction which covers the entire Jamaica.

Just this week, the police were accused of being unresponsive in two instances where they allegedly ignored reports being made by citizens in matters which resulted in fatalities.

In one incident, ex-Jamaica Defense Force soldier Jason Pryce allegedly shot and injured his common-law wife and killed her mother in Clarendon on Tuesday, and that same day two children were killed by their father in Trelawny.

Commissioner Ellington says although many of these incidents of non-responsiveness by the police are being investigated, the Jamaica Constabulary Force will be taking corrective measures at all levels.

The Commissioner says every effort will be made to educate members of the force and its auxiliaries about the proper procedures to follow when dealing with reports from citizens.

He made it clear that no one making a report of any offence or a request for any kind of police service at a police station or by telephone should be re-directed to another police station or office.

He says the person’s report must be recorded and action taken.

Persons making reports at any police station must be given a receipt from the officer taking the report.

Commissioner Ellington says the Officer or Sub-Officer in charge of that station must then communicate with the station concerned for follow-up investigation to be done. 

He has asked his Commanding Officers to ensure that this directive is brought to the attention of all members under their command by way of lectures for the next four weeks.

He says disciplinary action will be taken if any further report is received that anyone has been turned away from a police station for such reasons.

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