Holness urges JCF review of crime-scene protocols for injured and deceased Jamaicans

Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness has directed the Jamaica Constabulary Force to take a fresh look at its procedures for helping injured people and moving bodies from scenes of crime.

Holness said the issue is to be raised at the National Security Council, the Government’s main body for considering matters tied to national security and public safety.

“If necessary, protocols have to be established about how you remove the deceased from crime scenes or assist injured persons. These are matters that have to be looked into,” the Prime Minister said.

He said the way Jamaica responds to people who are hurt, vulnerable or dead reflects the country’s wider values. “We’re trying to build an economy; we are re trying to build a society, but more importantly, we are building a civilisation. How we treat our injured, our most vulnerable, weakest amongst us, how we treat the remains of the deceased tells us a lot about the kind of civilisation we have,” he added.

Holness said the ongoing reform of the police force must also deepen expectations around professional conduct, empathy and accountability to the public.

The Prime Minister was speaking on May 22 at the National Police College of Jamaica in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, where he delivered the keynote address for the graduation of the 91st Cohort of the JCF Staff and Junior Command Course.

He praised the graduates for completing the programme and encouraged them to stay focused on professionalism, resilience and service to the Jamaican people.

Holness also commended the JCF for continued declines in murders and violence nationally, while reminding the officers that their core duty is to safeguard life and deal with citizens respectfully.

The Prime Minister said the JCF’s influence is increasingly extending across the region, with Jamaican police personnel assisting Caribbean partners in law-enforcement work, especially against transnational organised crime.

He pointed to a recent trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands, where he said Jamaican officers were recognised for helping to improve security conditions. That work, he said, has supported investor confidence and strengthened areas including tourism, health and lifestyle development.

Holness said Jamaica has built crime-fighting systems, approaches and strategies that can now be offered to other countries dealing with comparable security problems.

He told the officers that the country’s heavy spending on national security is directly connected to growth and development. Lasting security, he said, helps create the conditions for investment and employment, giving the Government greater room over time to lift wages and improve living standards.