In the video, the officers were seen participating in their uniforms in what is said to be a TikTok trend.

Their participation, however, has been deemed to reinforce “several negative stereotypes” about the police force, argued the JCF.

The event saw a total of 53 persons – a combination of officers and members of the auxiliary – awarded certificates of recognition for their service during the year 2023.

However, there is “room for improvement” cautioned the chief commanding officer of the division during a quarterly virtual town hall meeting on Sunday.

Since the start of the year a new crime trend has emerged with criminals targeting armoured couriers contracted by large financial institutions.

Heavily armed gangsters have managed to  successfully ambush security crews in-transit, pulling off some of the most daring heists ever witness on the island.

Commanding Officer for the Division, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Christopher Phillips, provided details during a recently held Voice of the Youth Student Leadership Symposium, held at the 100-Man Police Station, Portmore, in the parish.

He said training will begin with recommended Prefects and students who have great influence within the division’s eight Safe Schools.

This will be held on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at Orion Plaza on South Street, Old Harbour.

Meeting starts at 6:00 pm sharp.

In recent weeks, particularly in this parish, there has been a noticeably rise in high stakes robbery targeting businesses handling large sums of cash.

In response to this growing threat, the police have embarked on a series of meetings within the division with business operators, primarily financial institutions such as banks, cambios, remittance services and couriers.

Murders, shootings, robberies and break-ins have all declined up to the end of March 31, 2023 when compared with last year’s corresponding period. However, major crimes such as rape remain the same, while larceny made a dramatic leap of a 100% with five recorded so far.

SSP Chris Phillips, commander in charge of St Catherine South Division, is pushing for the establishment of a working strategy between both sides which he contends is a win-win solution for all stakeholders.

At a recent meeting involving leading figures in the entertainment industry in Jamaica’s fastest growing town, the division’s chief law enforcer noted that it’s a template that has been successful elsewhere.