Horace Chang | Impact of modernised police stations on policing

Police stations are the operational base and the service centre for police within a community. The state and design of police stations directly reflects the strength, capability, and impact of police presence. At a time when community safety and security demands modern responses, we must empower police officers with modern, fit-for-purpose facilities for them to function optimally. In other words, modern police stations must reflect modern security requirements.

I did not come to this job of minister of national security with any preconceived ideas about the challenges faced by the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Among my early tasks was to visit police facilities to gain a first-hand appreciation of police working conditions. Following my first visit to a divisional headquarters, I instructed that the structure be demolished and replaced. Such grave deterioration was unacceptable. Such an acute level of infrastructural decay was not only an embarrassment to the country, but was offensive to the professionals who were charged to work there.

Needless to say, the Government understood and agreed from then, that significant investment outlays to provide modern, fit-for-purpose physical infrastructure were crucial to the country’s crime-fighting efforts. This is in addition to the other strategic upgrades and institutional transformation by the commissioner of police that will cumulatively make the police force more effective.

REPOSITIONING THE FORCE

Consequently, we undertook to reposition the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) as a law-enforcement ecosystem that will restore the respect, confidence and trust of those they are sworn to serve and protect.

One in which the members are treated like the true professionals that they are, as we seek to change the policing philosophy and culture. In this regard, the Government would be responsible for financing the physical transformation of the JCF, while the commissioner of police and his team lead an aggressive institutional transformation.

PHYSICAL TRANSFORMATION

The level of neglect imposed on the police force was particularly evident in the poor design and decay of the physical infrastructure. Police stations were derelict and run down. They did not reflect a modern police force and were not conducive for professional law-enforcement activities. They were inappropriate and unacceptable working conditions that were not suited for professionals to carry out their tasks.

Guardrooms, for example, were often small spaces which were poorly designed and not conducive to the services that are required at those crucial points of contact with citizens. It was not uncommon for an abused victim to be reporting a case of domestic violence and having her abuser in the same small space, literally breathing down her neck.

Additionally, the guardrooms were, often, not conducive for individuals to share information with the police in a private and confidential manner. The very term “guardroom” was repulsive to many residents seeking to engage their local police officers.

STRUCTURED APPROACH

With this in mind, we set about to improve the physical infrastructure of the police in a structured and systematic way. First, in consultation with the commissioner and his team, the design features required for a modern police station were agreed upon. Second, an engineering team was engaged to carry out a comprehensive assessment of all 186 police facilities across the island. Third, the needs for improvement were prioritised, starting with the facilities requiring the most urgent attention, for example: sanitation and safety.

Finally, funding was identified and the programme of work was branded as project Rebuild, Overhaul and Construct (ROC), with its main objective being to convert the police facilities into modern, efficient, citizen-friendly, professional workspaces. This includes transforming police guardrooms into welcoming reception areas and giving the police facilities an iconic presence in the communities where they are located.

EMBEDDED DESIGN FEATURES

As we transform the physical infrastructure, there are some critical features that must be embedded in the design to reflect the professional nature of policing. Some of these features include:

- modern office spaces with own restroom facilities for station and zone commanders;

- modern office spaces for other staff members;

- spacious conference rooms to facilitate the conduct of in-service training, case reviews as part of the investigative process, station lectures and briefing/debriefing sessions;

- large reception areas with own restroom facilities to cater to the public accessing services at the station, instead of guardrooms;

- server rooms to facilitate reliable Internet connectivity, radio communication, digitisation of police records, and data storage;

- built-in community spaces such as resource centres to provide safe spaces for children to do homework, access the Internet and facilitate positive interactions between the police and the citizens, and even automated teller machines;

- requisite private interview rooms for the Criminal Investigations Branch and to accommodate complainants;

- identification parade rooms;

- modern living and recreational areas for members;

- lock-up facilities; and

- adequate water harvesting and sewage systems.

Having determined the suitability and sustainability of the redesigned police stations, the commissioner of police commenced the process of ISO 9000 certification for some police stations to ensure that the standards are maintained.

The Buff Bay Police Station in Portland, the Olympic Gardens Police Station in St Andrew, and the Mount Salem Police Station in St James are among the newly built fit-for-purpose police stations. They boast all the previously outlined design features and are models for all our new constructions. So far, 110 police facilities have been renovated.

At the major police facilities, where the reception areas are inadequate for confidential conversations with complainants, Domestic Violence Interruption Centres (DVICs) have been set up through partnership between the Government of Jamaica, the United States Embassy, and United Nations Development Fund through its Spotlight Initiative. To date, 10 Domestic Violence Interruption Centres have been commissioned.

In addition, the commissioner of police has refocused the JCF’s Property Management and Maintenance Division to not just undertake repairs of their own, but to monitor the quality of work carried out by contractors on the various building projects. This division is headed by a project manager and is overseen by the deputy commissioner of police responsible for Force Development and Logistics.

NEW GOVERNMENT FUNDING POLICY

As an administration, we are committed to enhancing the professionalism of the police. Consequently, we have instituted a policy shift in how the police are funded, as we believe that Government must fund the full operations of our police force. This new policy stipulates that all private sector funding and donations must be properly channelled through the Office of the Commissioner of Police. This we deemed necessary in order to remove the potential risk of any social or criminal influences on the professional conduct of the police. This redirection of funds is crucial to ensuring the true independence of police operations. Police officers are professionals and must be provided with the requisite tools, infrastructure and legal support at public expense.

JAMAICA AND SOUTH AFRICA PARALLEL

As we look across the globe, South Africa provides a good example of a country that has had to reposition its police force. Coming out of apartheid, the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) underwent a process of repositioning in order to become a trusted and respected institution for all citizens. In a similar way, the JCF has had to overcome its colonial heritage and decades of public mistrust in order to establish itself as a highly professional, law-enforcement organisation.

Among the strategies adopted by the SAPS to gain public trust and confidence was to develop and execute a resourcing plan to meet the policing demands of the time.

It focused on police station upgrades, particularly in designated priority areas. The police stations became safe, welcoming spaces for the community.

Similarly, the JCF has identified ten major police divisions for focused attention. These include: the ‘Western tri-parish’ (St James, Hanover, and Westmoreland police divisions); the ‘Southern crescent’ of the Corporate Area (St Andrew South, Kingston Central, Kingston Western, and Kingston Eastern police divisions); and the ‘Southern Bi-Parish’ (St Catherine North, St Catherine South, and Clarendon police divisions). The JCF’s focused attention in these police divisions will be complemented by the Government’s renewed approach to social investment for sustained community transformation.

The SAPS also established victim-friendly facilities in all its new and upgraded police stations as part of a victim empowerment programme, where private facilities were provided for victims to make statements and access information. This represents a good parallel initiative of both countries.

IMPROVED STAFF MORALE

One of the benefits of having the police occupy good-quality physical facilities is the boost in morale that it engenders among the officers. Each time we open a newly built or refurbished facility, one cannot help but notice the high spirits and enthusiasm emanating from the officers operating from that location. We strongly believe that the workforce of highly skilled and competent professionals within the JCF must carry out their duties under conditions that are befitting of their professionalism.

INSTITUTIONAL REFORM

In addition to the morale boost that comes from the improved physical facilities, which will help to keep the officers focused, there must be the supporting internal structures and systems to gain the confidence of the police officers. This is being led by the police commissioner and will send the clear message to the officers that they are being treated professionally in all aspects of their operations.

Commissioner Anderson is currently leading the JCF’s most comprehensive and aggressive transformation process in the history of the force. Some of these internal changes include:

- transparent, merit-based promotions;

- reasonable remuneration;

- institutional structures, such as:

- specialised operations teams;

- technology branch;

- a force development and logistics portfolio;

- inspectorate and professional standards oversight bureau; and

- welfare department.

This ongoing work of institutional reform is a critical component of repositioning the JCF while supporting the development of sustainable and safe communities.

VISION

This administration is pursuing the transformation of police facilities mindful that a modern and efficient police force requires modern, fit-for-purpose tools in order to get the job done. At the same time, the commissioner of police is leading the process of internal restructuring to optimise the performance of the force. As these initiatives come together, I am confident that we are positioning the Jamaica Constabulary Force to be the most capable, competent, equipped, and efficient law-enforcement agency in the region; with strong, professional community presence, and debilitating impact on crime in Jamaica.

In future articles, I will expound on the Government’s holistic approach to social investment and the comprehensive institutional reform that is being led by the police commissioner.

- Dr Horace Chang is Jamaica’s deputy prime minister and minister of national security. He is also a member of parliament for North West St James. Send feedback to securityminister@mns.gov.jm