JCF, ISCF merger coming

Nagra Plunkett, Assignment Coordinator
WESTERN BUREAU:

The National Security Minister, Peter Bunting, has disclosed that the Government will be pursuing a merger of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) this year.

According to Bunting, the move is part of the plan to fight crime by prevention and control.

He was speaking at the 69th annual conference of the Jamaica Police Federation in Trelawny yesterday.

The minister said he is hoping the leaderships of the JCF and the ISCF will soon sign-off on the plan for the merger.

At the same time, Bunting said there will be a shift on emphasis from national security to citizen security, so that residents have a stake in the protection of their communities.

Bunting said there are also plans to merge the Police Service Commission and the Police Civilian Oversight Authority this year.

The two bodies will form one new police management authority.

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