Full Guide on becoming a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF)

SUGGESTED: 2019 Guide on Joining the Department of Correctional Services as a Correctional Officer

SUGGESTED: 2019 Guide on becoming a member of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF)

Last Updated December 12th 2019

1. Added a list of limitations of the Police under the Law. (Activities that are unlawful for the police to perform)

About The Jamaica Constabulary Force

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is the police force of Jamaica. Founded in 1716, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is the official police force of Jamaica, with their mission is ‘to serve, protect and reassure with courtesy, integrity, and respect for the rights of all.’

If you want to join the tradition, move according to the oath, and be a part of the family of dedicated police officers, I would like to thank you so much for considering this noble service.

The current head of the JCF is Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson. The JCF’s mission is ‘to serve, protect and reassure with courtesy, integrity and respect for the rights of all.’ The JCF falls under the authority of the Ministry of National Security.

The national roles of the JCF

• To maintain law and order
• To assist in the prevention and detection of crime
• To investigate alleged crimes
• To protect life and property
• To enforce all criminal laws as defined by the Jamaican penal code
• To provide general assistance to the public

Strategic Vision

The vision of the Jamaica Constabulary is to become a high-quality professional service that is valued and trusted by all the citizens of Jamaica.

Value Statement

The Jamaica Constabulary is committed to the quality of its service delivery and the satisfaction of its internal and external customers.

Career options

• Forensic science
• Fraud investigation
• Intelligence gathering and analysis’,
• Investigation of serious and organized crime
• Legal services

Ranks

Benefits

• Paid Vacation Leave
• Paid Departmental Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Study Leave
• Paid Maternity Leave
• Advanced Training Courses (local and overseas)
• Health insurance and access to medical benefits locally and internationally
• Subsistence allowance
• Duty allowance
• Professional advancement
• Accelerated promotion
• Legal aid
• Pension and gratuity
• Police Association support (upon joining the association and payment of subscriptions)

Limitations & Unlawful Activities

Collection of Rent & Courier Services

Under the Jamaica Constabulary Force Act/Duties and Powers of the Force, it is unlawful for the Police to be involved with the collection of rent & rates, assist in the repossession of assets, or involved in the serving of summons resulting from a civil process for on behalf of any private citizen or incorporated company.

Executing Civil Matter Arrest Warrants

The police cannot execute a committal/arrest warrant arising from a civil matter on behalf of any private citizen or an incorporated company.

Stop & Search

In June 2013, Supreme Court judge, Justice David Batts ruled that the police have no power, under the Road Traffic Act, to arbitrarily stop and search motor vehicles. The judge said there was the widespread belief that Section 58 of the Road Traffic Act gives power to Jamaican police to stop and search vehicles without reasonable cause. "That act does no such thing," Batts clearly emphasized in his judgment. He explained that the act allows for the redirection of traffic or stopping of vehicles for the purposes of traffic flow or some reasonable purpose such as the suspicion that an individual has or is about to commit a crime and intel that relates to peculiar characteristics of the persons or the vehicle he is driving, or the manner in which it is operated. "It is still the law of this nation that persons under The Queen's peace are entitled to freedom from search of their person or property unless such a search is legally justified."

Requesting to See Documents & driver's licence

"The request for documents and driver's licence similarly follow on some existing cause, such as a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been or is about to be committed.

Differences Between a District Constable and a Regular Constable

Attributes	District Constable	Regular Constable
Age of force:	1899 to 2019: 120 Years	1876 to 2019: 152 Years
Enlisted as at September 2019:	2,765	11,454
Men to Women Ratio:	80 to 30	70 to 30
Powers & Charge:	THE CONSTABLES (DISTRICT) ACT 1977 THE CONSTABULARY FORCE ACT 2014 THE EMERGENCY POWERS ACT  2018 The Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Community Development and Special Security Measures) Act, 2017	THE CONSTABULARY FORCE ACT 2014 THE EMERGENCY POWERS ACT  2018 The Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Community Development and Special Security Measures) Act, 2017
Typical Duties:	A DC’s main role is to provide support to the JCF. Typical duties: Administrative Jail Cell Management Customer Service Duties Station Guard Duties Community patrolling Tourist Resort Area patrolling	All career fields available in the JCF
Powers of Constable:	Full Powers of a constable	Full Powers of a constable
Training & Enlistment:	Sit & passing an exam, doing a physical a medical and passing a lie detector test, they will be trained for four months, be on probation for two years then become members of the Constabulary Force	Seven months of rigorous training
Age Limit:	Up to 40 years old	Up to 30 years old
Training Institution:	National Police College of Jamaica (NPCJ) University of the West Indies, Mona Campus FACILITIES	National Police College of Jamaica (NPCJ) University of the West Indies, Mona Campus FACILITIES
Workers Union:	The United District Constables Association	Jamaica Police Federation
Benefits
Pension	Provisioned under the Civil Service Establishment (General Order) 2018	Full retirement pension
Maximum Rank Upgrade:	District Constable	Commissioner of Police
Death Benefits:	Yes	Yes
Housing Allowance:	No	Yes
Overtime Payment:	No	Yes, Set overtime period of 10 hours per month
Uniform Allowance:	No	Yes
Relocation Grant:	No	Yes
Education Grant:	Yes	Yes
Paid Leave:	Yes	Yes
Subsidized Transportation (JUTC)	To some extent	Yes
Free Lunch	Determined by duty and location	Determined by duty and location
Pros & Cons
Cons	1.The term “District Constables” would imply that once appointed, you will serve inside your district because you would be familiar with the local citizens and Justices of the Peace in your area. This is not the case presently. 2.Whilst progress is being made at the legislative and negotiations level, DCs are not often equally compared to their peers in the JCF with regards to benefits, salary & respect even though the duties are very similar. 3.Unless you possess a rare, in-demand skillset required by the JCF, you will most likely remain at the same rank as a DC until your retirement or separation. 4.Whilst Union representation is strong from both The United District Constables Association and Jamaica Police Federation, The JPF’s sway is heavier. Take for example the recent motor vehicle handover recently negotiated by the JPF. 5.District Constables are traditionally called rural police. This is far from the truth based on daily duties.

Joining as a Regular Constable

Application Check List

The first step in the recruiting process is completing the Online Application Form. Once complete you print and take the completed form to a recruiting center where it will be checked along with supporting documents after which you be given a date to sit the entrance test.
The following documents are required when visiting the recruiting office.

Minimum academic qualification:

• Four (3) CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) 
• CXC/CSEC – at grades 1-3 (grade 3 acceptable after 1998) or
• GCE O’Level – at grades of A to C or
• SSC – grades at ranges 4 and 5
• English Language is compulsory.
• Mathematics is no longer a requirement (Chemistry, Physics or accounts can be used instead of mathematics))
  
• Candidates can have Mathematics or any other numeric-based subjects such as Accounts, Chemistry, and Physics.
• Any other qualifications that are equivalent to the aforementioned and so approved by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) or University Council of Jamaica (UCJ).
• NB: JSC and lower educational qualifications are not accepted.
• Note also that certification received overseas must be accredited in Jamaica. Applicants are required to obtain the requisite accreditation from the office of the UCJ.
• Applicants who present tertiary level certification (eg. first and or second degrees) are required to sit the entry-level exam.
• Where the applicant possesses other qualifications such as certificate or diploma in addition to less than the four subjects required, the recruiting officer may conduct a brief interview with him/her and determine whether based on the transcript of these certifications, the candidate may be granted permission to sit the exam.

Supporting Documents Required

• Four (4) Passport size photos (stamped and signed by a JP, Police inspector or higher rank)
• Original Birth Certificate and Deed Poll (if applicable)
• National Insurance Scheme (NIS) card
• Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) Card
• Valid photo ID in the form of National ID, Driver’s Licence or Passport must be presented at all times during the recruiting process
• Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
• Divorce Absolute (if applicable)
• Immunization Card
• Discharge Certificate from previous Government Agencies (where applicable)
  NB. All documents must be originals with photocopies taken for verification and inclusion into your file.

Height, Weight & Age Requirements

• Age Profile: 17-30 years* (A person over the age of 30 who has suitable qualifications from a recognized tertiary institution may be given an opportunity to be part of the process.)
• Female – 5' 5" * 120 lbs.
• Male – 5' 7" * 125 lbs and over.
• Applicants over 30 years must come from one of the following professions: military, education, medical, finance/banking, scientific, technical or legal.

The Application Process

You will have to first do an online application on the JCF’s recruiting website

Entry Examinations

After submitting the form, The written examination, which they will be required to do, will consist of two parts. The first part will be an essay on a selected topic. The applicant will have 45 minutes to complete this task,” said Beeput. “The second part consists of 10 basic mathematics questions, 20 civics questions, and 40 English questions.

Applicants are told whether or not they have passed the exam the same day.

Antecedent Investigations

If successful, you will be processed for security concerns. That will involve interviews with your friends and references. They will check your school records, religion, work history, family history, associates, assets, liabilities, social groups or organization, internet misconduct, use of force against the police, gambling among other things.

Also, if you are older than 25, you must be prepared to explain the time-gaps in unemployment.

Panel Interview

Candidates will undergo a panel interview with 3-4 Senior Officers from the JCF Human Resource Department. They will assess your oral communication skill, mental agility, general knowledge, appreciation of the role of the police in society.

They can also ask for details on the application form and conduct further security checks.

Physical Assessment

You will be required to do a physical fitness examination that will feature skills like running, push-ups, etc. This is to ascertain the level of their physical fitness as it relates to coordination and general agility. Again, the passing grade is 60%.

Further security checks

Your biometric data, like fingerprints, will be sent for processing to the Transnational Crimes and Narcotics Division (TCND) Division and National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) for checks against local and international intelligence and criminal databases in order to prove that you have a clean sheet here and abroad.

Medical Assessment

You will then do a medical screening involving blood tests, blood pressure tests, pregnancy tests, drug test vision and hearing tests, urine analysis and x-rays.

Psychological Assessment

This evaluation will test for the measurement of psychological variables such as intelligence, aptitude, and personality traits. This will include an OMNI Inventory Test. You may have to be prepared for a polygraph to make sure that the person is mentally and morally fit for the job and to ensure that these people are dedicated to the code of conduct they will undertake.

Training

There are three stages that must be completed by the successful applicant during training. First Stage, Intermediate, Stage Final Stage. At the end of each stage there is an examination that each student MUST pass in order to move on to the next stage. The training for new recruits is five months. It is conducted at the main training facility at Twickenham Park. The curriculum covers the fundamentals of policing, introduction to law and police procedures, human rights and use of force, anti-corruption and ethics, firearms training, and basic combat procedures.

This five-month training is followed by 19 months of on-the-job training, which completes the statutory two-year probationary period. The on-the-job training exposes the new graduates to the court system, criminal investigation, enforcement of traffic laws and accident investigation, lock-up administration and prisoner handling, patrols, basic operational procedures, and general policing.

At the conclusion of the probationary period, the recruit is confirmed as a member of the organization.

 

Accommodation

Living accommodation will be provided at the Staff College for candidates during all three modules of the program.

 SUGGESTED: 2019 Guide on Joining the Department of Correctional Services as a Correctional Officer

SUGGESTED: 2019 Guide on becoming a member of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF)

Joining as a District Constable

Application Check List

The first step in the recruiting process is completing the Online Application Form. Once complete you print and take the completed form to a recruiting center where it will be checked along with supporting documents after which you be given a date to sit the entrance test. 

Minimum academic qualification:

• The applicant must have a school leaving certificate. No academic examination passes are required. However, the applicant must score a minimum average of 60% in written tests in English and Mathematics. Applicants with CXC passes or its equivalent will be given priority consideration.
• Successful applicants in the tests will be interviewed by an interview panel. A minimum score of 60% must be attained at the interview for further processing. The applicants who have passed the interview will be required to do a medical examination, blood test, and physical test.

Supporting Documents Required

• Four (4) Passport size photos (stamped and signed by a JP, Police inspector or higher rank)
• Original Birth Certificate and Deed Poll (if applicable)
• National Insurance Scheme (NIS) card
• Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) Card
• Valid photo ID in the form of National ID, Driver’s Licence or Passport must be presented at all times during the recruiting process
• Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
• Divorce Absolute (if applicable)
• Immunization Card
• Must have two (2) recommendations from any of the following persons: Justice of the Peace, Minister of Religion, Attorney-At-Law, School Principal, Police Officer not below the rank of Inspector, any Commissioned Officer of the Jamaica Defence Force, Parish Councillor and Medical Doctor.
• Discharge Certificate from previous Government Agencies (where applicable)
  NB. All documents must be originals with photocopies taken for verification and inclusion into your file.

Height, Weight & Age Requirements

• Age Profile: 18-40 years
• Female – 5' 3 * 115 lbs.
• Male – 5' 5? * 125 lbs.

Path to promotion

After a minimum of two years as a DC sitting an exam and passing, doing a physical a medical and passing a lie detector test, they will be trained for four months, be on probation for two years then become proud members of the Constabulary Force

Joining through the New Accelerated Promotions Programme (NAPP) (previously Graduate Entry Programme)

In 1989 the then Minister of National Security and Justice, the Honourable K.D. Knight, indicated in his budget presentation that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) should seek to attract Graduates with certain skills. In April 1994, Cabinet gave approval for a number of proposals emanating from the Hirst and Wolfe Reports to improve the capabilities of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. In keeping with the recommendations of the Hirst Report and Cabinet’s approval, the post of Assistant Superintendent of Police was to be used to accommodate the Graduate Entry Programme.

In October 2011, then Minister of National Security, Senator Dwight Nelson gave approval for the creation of a New Accelerated Promotions Programme (NAPP). This new policy supersedes all previous policies dealing with the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Graduate (Direct) Entry, Internal Graduate Develop and Accelerated Promotion Programmes.

Requirements

• Applicants must have at least a Bachelors Degree or equivalent qualification from an accredited tertiary institution or
• Applicants who are not the holders of a Bachelors Degree, must have at least two years service and possess accredited Diplomas or Associate Degrees or
• Applicants must have at least two years service and at least three CAPE passes at the minimum Range 3 or GCE “A’ Level with a minimum C grade pass

Selection Process

• Phase I Written Exam
• Phase II Assessment Centre
• Phase III Panel Interview
• Phase IV Integrity Screening (Ethics Committee Interview and Polygraph Test)

The Written Examination (Phase I) shall comprise:: –
a) Argument, and Logical Reasoning
b) Comprehension and Writing Skills

Candidates must be successful in Phase 1 in order to advance to Phase II – the Assessment Centre. A pre-screening of applicants will be conducted prior to their admission to the first phase of the selection process. This will include a report on their work, worth and conduct from their Commanding Officers.

Assessment Centre (Phase II) – Candidates will be engaged in a range of individual and group
exercises designed to test their ability in :
a) Comprehension and Writing Skills
b) Critical Thinking
c) Problem Solving
d) Systematic Reasoning
e) Communication
f) Leadership & Team Skills

The training programme is comprised of five (5) modules the first of which will not be applicable to candidates who have already completed their basic recruit training. The phases are:
a) Module 1 – Basic Recruit Training (16 weeks)
b) Module 11 – Personal Effectiveness (8 weeks)
c) Phase 111 – Advanced Academic Development (20 weeks)
d) Module IV- Professional Development (Staff and Junior Command Course Special) 24 weeks
e) Module V – Attachment and Mentoring

Basic Training

All applicants in this programme must complete the regular basic training in laws and police procedures at the Jamaica Police Academy. This will provide them with the fundamentals to develop organizational understanding to facilitate the transition from civilian life to law enforcement. A strong focus will be placed on the organization’s mission, vision, philosophy and values. It will also provide for the theoretical and practical training in Basic Laws, Police Duties and Procedures, Human Rights and Use of Force and Firearms.

Accommodation

Living accommodation will be provided at the Staff College for candidates during all three modules of the programme.

Graduation

At the end of the taught courses, successful candidates will graduate from training. This is before they enter the mentorship phase. A career development programme will be designed for the graduates to guide their gradual exposure and further development in vital areas of police leadership and command.

Recruiting Centres

Area 1- Freeport Police Station # 952-2417, 952-4396

Area 2- St. Mary Pompano Bay # 975-5270

Area 3- May Pen Police Station # 902-9905 or 542-5626

Area 4&5- Office Centre Building 12, Ocean Boulevard # 922-6104

Central Recruiting Office # 982-2773

Frequently asked questions

Q: If I have no subject can I still apply?

A: No

Q: If I have all the subject and meet the height requirements but I am age  31, can u still apply?

A: The requirements specifically say the age limit is age 30.

Q: I have less than the required 4 CSEC Subjects but I have HEART, City & Guilds or other supplements, Can I still apply?

A: The requirements specifically list 4 CSEC Subjects as the minimum requirement. Candidates who possess those requirements will be attended to first and most likely you will be turned away.

Q: How fit do I need to be to join the Police Service?
A: You must be physically fit and healthy to perform policing duties safely and effectively. You will take a fitness test as part of the recruitment process.

Q: Can I join the police force if I have been convicted of an offense?
A: You will not be considered if you have been convicted of any serious offense.

Q: Can I Join If I have a criminal record?
A: You must be honest and have a high degree of integrity to be a Constable.
Constables with criminal associations or convictions may be vulnerable to pressure to disclose information. Convictions and cautions for certain offences can also undermine a police officer’s position as a witness in court. For these reasons, The Jamaica Constabulary need to be careful about recruiting people with cautions or convictions.

Q. If I have a Tattoo can I still apply?
A. Tattoos are not a bar to applying. However, some tattoos could potentially offend members of the public or colleagues or could bring discredit to the police force. It depends on their size, nature and location, and sometimes on the extent. Tattoos are not acceptable if they: Undermine the dignity and authority of the office of constable; Could cause offence to members of the public or colleagues and/or invite provocation; Are garish or numerous or particularly prominent; Indicate alignment with a particular group, which could give offence to members of the public or colleagues;

Q. Will I be paid during training?
A. YES, Student constables get a full salary but no allowances such as housing since living quarters are provided.

SUGGESTED: 2019 Guide on Joining the Department of Correctional Services as a Correctional Officer

SUGGESTED: 2019 Guide on becoming a member of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF)