THE government, held to ransom by the recent upsurge in murders and criminal activities, is insisting that the recommendations put forward by the Herbert Thompson-led Strategic Review team will not go the way of similar reports.

"The government is adamant that on this occasion, a concerted effort will be made to implement these recommendations," National Security Minister Colonel Trevor MacMillan told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
On Friday, the recommendations by the panel, commissioned last year by the former government to undertake a review of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), were presented to the public.

The 124-point, wide-ranging recommendations aimed at modernising the force for the 21st century, included a heavy civilian component. It also recommended a greater role for the Police Services Commission (PSC) in the new dispensation.

Yesterday, MacMillan said the document contained a number of good recommendations, among them the need for a change in the culture of the force. On the matter of polygraph testing for senior level officers, the minister said, "some amount of polygraph testing is currently being done at that level in the force".

Meanwhile, Opposition Spokesman on National Security Dr Peter Phillips yesterday agreed with the minister that a change in the culture of the force was paramount.

"I believe the review provides a basis for the continuing review of the police force, with a change in culture being critical to going forward. But that will have to come over time. I believe also that the provisions for discipline within the ranks are also critical, as well as the recommended approach of zero tolerance towards corruption," Phillips said.

According to Phillips, the recommendation for a civilian oversight body was welcome in any modern day police force. He also threw his support behind the idea of "c****ining the work of the civilian oversight authority with the Police Services Commission", but said it will require amendment of the constitution.

"But all in all, I believe the proposals were well thought out, and the Opposition stands ready to work with the government, to work towards their implementation," Phillips said.

The recommendations also contain a heavy human rights component, which has Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) executive director, Dr Carolyn Gomes, hopeful that the society has reached the limit of crime and criminality it can stomach.

"The mettle of this government will be the extent to which they do all they can to implement these recommendations. While it is directed at the police force, it's for the entire society, and we have to get to a point where we say that we can't take any more." Gomes told Sunday Observer yesterday.

According to Gomes, new recruits are already trained with a human rights component, but she wants it to go further up the ranks.

She said the report, to date, is the most detailed of all previous ones, and that the JFJ welcomed the recommendations for the strengthening of the Police Services Commission (PSC).

She said she hoped the report would not become yet another big 'yawn'.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding speaking in Parliament said not all the recommendations were accepted by his government.