National Security Minister, Dr Horace Chang has written to Opposition Leader, Mark Golding urging him to ensure that the policy and practice of separating police operations from political interference be maintained.
It follows statements made by Opposition Spokesperson on National Security Peter Bunting, at the recently concluded 81st Annual Joint Central Conference of the Jamaica Police Federation.
Mr Bunting raised concern that former chairman Corporal Rohan James was barred from attending the conference, claiming that he was being muzzled by the police high command.
In the letter, Dr Chang says, while no institution is above public criticism and question, the manner and nature of such public pronouncements must be tempered against the obligation to protect the institution from undue influence in the exercise of its authority.
Dr Chang says debate about the Jamaica Constabulary Force's general policy on discipline or remuneration, falls appropriately within the realm of political debate.
But, he says it is problematic when a legislator or political representative agitates on behalf of a specific individual officer against the Police High Command in a matter that is within the exclusive disciplinary remit of the Police, and has also been the subject of a court action.
He says, when politicians begin to advocate on behalf of the personal cases of police officers against the police high command, and try to influence the high command through public pronouncements, this breaches the lines of separation between policy and political interference.
In his letter, Dr Chang highlighted what he says is the sanctity of the separation of policy, police operations and political interference.
Dr Chang says publicly taking sides on matters concerning the operational, human resource and disciplinary decisions of the police high command blurs that line of separation.
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