Police Commissioner begins implementing JCF review panel recommendations

Despite mounting opposition to the report of the administrative review panel appointed by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Police Commissioner George Quallo says he has begun implementing some of the recommendations.

The panel was appointed to review the conduct of police personnel during the May 2010 operations to apprehend drug lord Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

It was one of the recommendations made by the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry, which probed the conduct of the operations.

However, the JCF administrative review panel, in its controversial report, raised questions about the findings of the Commission and cleared the five policemen singled out for possible dereliction of duty.

In a statement issued late last night, Commissioner Quallo revealed that he met with National Security Minister Robert Montague yesterday to discuss concerns about the report of the review committee.

In the meantime, however, Mr Quallo says he has begun introducing the use of body worn cameras by police personnel, as well as joint specialised training in human and constitutional rights.

He says the JCF is also instituting meticulous record-keeping and notes that recording of the ballistic signatures of all weapons in the police force is almost complete.