Phillips wants police legal defence fund replenished

President of the Opposition People's National Party (PNP), Dr Phillips, has raised concern that the legal defence fund that was set up to assist the police with covering legal expenses is depleted.

Dr Phillips blasted the Government for not replenishing the legal defence fund to assist police personnel.

He argued that if the police should get into legal wrangling as result of a confrontation with criminals, the legal fees could bankrupt their families.

The Opposition leader said the former PNP administration had established the $20 million fund, but the fund is now depleted. 

He said the government should make it a priority to have the fund replenished. 

And Dr Phillips is calling for the Government to quickly reach a wage agreement with the unions representing members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

According to him, police personnel are demoralised. He says cops are being made to work long hours under harsh conditions.

"We are insisting first of all, that they need to complete the police salary negotiations quickly, because police are going out [on] the streets, and police are demoralised.

"They are leaving the force in numbers. They are working hours longer than any other government worker in Jamaica have to work," Phillips said at a PNP conference in South St Andrew last week.