Annual Poster Competition 2025
The Transforming Our Police Service (TOPS) Poster Competition for Secondary Schools is created by the Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA) with the aim of allowing our children the opportunity to express how they feel about the police and what they want them to be, through art. The theme for the competition is, “Imaging #aForce4Good: Partnerships for Progress.” This year the competition is being staged in Area 5 for secondary schools in St. Thomas, St. Andrew North, St. Catherine North and St. Catherine South police divisions.
OVERVIEW
The poster should reflect how each entrant understands the theme, and this can be guided by the phrase #aForce4Good and an understanding of what it means to be good.
ELIGIBILITY
Any student of a registered secondary school within the parishes of St. Catherine, St. Thomas and the following in St. Andrew North (Stony Hill Technical, Hillel Academy, Victory Academy, The Queens School, Oberlin High, Meadowbrook High, Mavis Bank High, Immaculate Conception and Calabar High) from Grades 7-13 is eligible to enter.
CONTEST RULES
- Posters must be11” x 17”.
- Students can use acrylics, crayons, pencil, coloured pencil, charcoal, pastels, magic markers, water colours and ink
- All artwork must be original and reflect the theme. Students will be penalized for plagiarism (passing off the work/idea of another person as their own).
- A completed entry form must accompany all entries.
- Entries will become the property of the PCOA and entrants will be required to relinquish all copyrights to the PCOA
- Posters exceeding or going below the requested dimension will be disqualified.
- ONE poster per entrant – THREE per school.
The PCOA reserves the right to disqualify any poster that does not meet the requirement specified.
SELECTION OF AWARDEES
A panel of judges will assess all entries and prizes will be awarded to the winner, 1st and 2nd runners-up. Entries will be judged based on the following criteria:
- Adherence to theme
- Originality
- Creativity and visual effectiveness
- Neatness
AWARDS
- Cash awards and other prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place student/teacher.
- Top posters will be used in a calendar and colouring book.
- Photos and accompanying news releases will be posted on PCOA Website and Social Media Platforms.
APPEARANCES
- Awardees are required to participate in at least three (3) events, organized by or related to the PCOA, which may include involvement in a PCOA Podcast Episode, television and/or print interviews, and a public appearance.
SUBMISSION
The official entry form, which is included below, must be completed and submitted along with the agreement to the Terms and Conditions. Both must be completed and uploaded to the PCOA Website – www.pcoa.gov.jm or emailed to info@pcoa.gov.jm. Entries must be received NO LATER than OCTOBER 17, 2025 by 5:00 p.m.
An official entry form must be attached to each contest entry. Any submission without the required information will not be accepted.