Former Commissioner of Police Colonel Trevor MacMillan says the serious crimes currently affecting the country could have been significantly reduced if administrations over the last 20 years had adequately increased the size of the police force to tackle the growing problem.

Contributing to a debate on the Jamaica Constabulary Force Act in the Senate on Friday, Opposition Senator MacMillan suggested that the force could have achieved more than a 20 per cent reduction in murders last year.

The former crime chief told his colleague senators that the use of the 'hot spot' technique last year, which involved the deployment of police personnel to potential problem areas, was credited for the success achieved by the force. However, he argued that this strategy left some locations without sufficient resources to provide adequate service.

Quick response

Colonel MacMillan's remarks drew a quick response from Government Senator, Colin Campbell who questioned why the former police commissioner did not increase the complement of the force during his tenure.

Responding, Senator MacMillan said that for three years between 1993 and 1996 he tried to convince the then Minister of National Security, K.D. Knight to increase the complement of the force, but the minister ignored his suggestion.

"He would not agree to it, that I state categorically," he stressed.

"I submit that in the last 20 years if we had been increasing the size of the JCF to what is really required, the situation in Jamaica might just be different," he contended.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force Act was amended to provide increased pension benefits to some members of the Island Special Constabulary Force who had been enlisted in the Jamaica Constabulary Force on or after February 27, 1998.