Amid an increase in reports of domestic violence since the start of the year, the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) is boosting its capacity to respond to incidents with the training of 24 police personnel who completed the Domestic Violence Train-the-Trainer Course.  

The specially trained law officers, who are the first cohort, underwent study over five-weeks. They were pulled from police divisions three to five, the Chaplin Services Branch, the Community Safety and Security Branch and the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA). 

Among the topics covered were the psychology of self, training development, fundamental concepts in gender-based and domestic violence, and the relevant laws and supporting regulations.  

It is expected that the course participants will return to their respective divisions to develop training sessions for colleagues to effectively address reports of domestic violence.  

A Domestic Violence Handbook, completed with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), was issued to each officer, as well as the divisional branches of the JCF.  

At the graduation ceremony held at the National Police College of Jamaica (NPCJ) in St Catherine on Friday, July 21, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jacqueline Dillon said that a new Domestic Violence Training Manual is being developed, which will enable the police to address the crime more effectively. Dillion disclosed in an interview with Our Today, that reports of domestic violence have increased so far this year, compared to the same period last year. She said the parishes of Manchester and St Ann recorded the highest number of reports.

“We’re now in the process of putting together a new training manual and it should be ready by the end of next month,” she said.  

 UNFPA representative for the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, Elizabeth Talbert, in her remarks, highlighted the prevalence of domestic violence, pointing out that “one in every four persons has been affected by gender-based violence”. 

She commended the course participants and urged them to use the training to help domestic violence victims. 

 “This training has prepared you to be able to assist victims and [work with] perpetrators…it has prepared you to be able to train others to address this issue,” she said.  

Constable Andrew Williams, who was one of the valedictorians, said the “knowledge gained over the past five weeks will indeed follow us everywhere”. 

“We vow to be kind and we will share this knowledge and ensure that every police officer within our reach benefits from what we have learned. We guarantee that nobody will be left behind,” he pledged.  

The training was done through the JCF’s Domestic Violence Intervention Centre, with funding support from the United Nations (UN) Spotlight Initiative, which aims to eliminate violence against women and girls.