KINGSTON, September 5 — The Police Civilian Oversight Authority will begin inspections on September 8 for the Transforming Our Police Service (TOPS) competition in Area 5. This year marks the second time Area 5, which includes the divisions of St. Thomas, St. Andrew North, St. Catherine North, and St. Catherine South, has been selected for the competition. The area comprises 39 stations and three marine outposts.
The competition aims to enhance operational standards and boost morale within the JCF and will seek to evaluate police stations based on several key areas:
- Records Management: This includes the proper maintenance of the Station Diary, Firearm Register, General Property Book, and CR10. For stations with prisoners in custody (PIC), the PIC Register, PIC Cards, Remand Book, and Charge and Prisoners Property Book will also be scrutinized.
- Station Administration: Station plans, minute books, and the overall conduct of internal station inspections will be reviewed.
- Station Facility: The cleanliness and order of the barracks, bathrooms, and station yards will be assessed, along with the presence of JCF and Jamaican flags and signage.
- Utilities Conservation: Stations will be evaluated on their efforts to conserve resources, including the appointment of a dedicated Conservation Officer.
- Customer Service: This is a crucial part of the evaluation, focusing on police-public interactions, the maintenance of the Citizen Complaints Register, and the effectiveness of community engagement through meetings. A customer satisfaction survey will also be conducted.
For the 18 PIC stations in the area, security controls, such as physical checks and cell searches, are also a major part of the inspection. The inspection of records will cover a 30-day period.
In the meantime, the TOPS competition was launched in 2019 in Area 2 (St. Ann, Portland, and St. Mary) and held in Area 5 for the first time in 2020. The 2020 winners from Area 5 included: Top Station – Above Rocks Station (St. Catherine North Division); Top Division – St. Andrew North Division; Top Prisoners in Custody Station – Greater Portmore Station (St. Catherine South Division); and Top Customer Service Station: Cedar Valley Station (St. Thomas Division). Top Stations in St. Andrew North and St. Thomas divisions were Irish Town and Bath stations, respectively.
The competition encourages healthy rivalry among stations and aims to foster a culture of excellence and accountability, ultimately leading to improved service for the public. This initiative is a testament to the PCOA’s commitment to continuously seek ways to assist in the transformation process of the Jamaica Constabulary Force as well as build community partnerships.
All inspections are expected to conclude by September 24.