Police Federation spent J$60 million on legal fees last year

Western Bureau:

The Jamaica Police Federation yesterday revealed that it shelled out approxi-mately $60 million last year to assist with the legal fees of federation members who were hauled before the court to answer charges against them.

The revelation was made

by the Federation's general secretary, Detective Inspector Carol Chisholm, during her report on the first day of the two-day 72nd Annual Joint Central Conferences of the Police Federation at Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa, in Montego Bay.

"For the period 2014-2015, the Federation supported its members with legal fees totaling J$58 million," said Chisholm, in explaining the expenditure.

When he spoke to the con-ference subsequent to Chisholm's revelation, National Security Minister Peter Bunting said the Government was fully supportive of the provisions that were being made by the Federation to support crime fighters facing legal woes.

"I am supporting during the course of this [wage] negotiation that adequate funds be provided for the legal defence of the men and women, who are lawfully carrying out their duties," Bunting said in his presentation.

GOV'T GIVES $20M

He said the Government had allocated $20 million to assist in paying legal cost of members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force through the Federation's legal defence fund.

He said the decision was taken after concerns were raised by the Federation's chairman, Sergeant Raymond Wilson.