Cops fire back at renewed criticism over lack of body-worn cameras
Published:Monday | February 3, 2025 | 5:10 PM
The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) High Command has ripped Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), accusing the human rights lobby of peddling misinformation after it yesterday raised renewed concerns about the absence of body-worn cameras during security force operations.
In a statement yesterday morning, JFJ said the absence of body-worn cameras was a critical issue that continues to undermine transparency, accountability, and public trust in law enforcement.
“The alarming increase in fatal shootings by security forces over the past two years underscores the pressing need for this essential tool to ensure justice and protect the rights of all citizens,” JFJ said.
For the first month of 2025, which ended yesterday, 28 fatal shootings by security forces were recorded, 50 per cent more than the previous period in 2024.
“One of the earliest security force shootings of the year was the January 1 shooting of a 17-year-old boy at Oddman Lane in St Andrew, where none of the security officers involved in the incident wore body cameras,” JFJ said. “This escalation follows a troubling pattern from 2023, when 155 fatal shooting incidents were recorded – none of which involved the use of operational body-worn cameras. In 2024, the situation worsened, with 189 fatalities reported, a 34 per cent increase over the previous year. [The year] 2024 represents the highest number of fatal shootings in over a decade since 2013 recorded 258 fatalities by security forces. These figures, provided by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), paint a grim picture of the state of security operations in Jamaica.”
JFJ said that it was particularly concerning that, according to INDECOM, fatal shootings during planned operations accounted for 40 per cent of the fatalities by the security forces in 2024.
“Planned operations, by their very nature, suggest a level of intelligence-driven preparedness and control that should result in more arrests and fewer fatalities. Shockingly, INDECOM confirmed that most of these operations did not involve the use of body-worn cameras. The absence of body-worn cameras in such operations not only deprives investigators of crucial evidence but also raises serious questions about the conduct of these operations and the circumstances under which lives are being lost.”
‘Flawed assertions’
But in a sharp rebuke yesterday afternoon, the High Command warned that “flawed assertions” such as JFJ’s and the “continued dissemination of misinformation erode trust in the police” and misrepresent the efforts to modernise law enforcement in the island.
“The JCF firmly rejects the baseless claim that it is resisting the use of body-worn cameras. Our commitment to transparency, accountability, and improving public trust in policing is evident, and any suggestion to the contrary is both misleading and irresponsible,” the High Command said. “Implementing an effective body-worn camera programme in a law enforcement organisation as large as the JCF and within the context of a small island developing state requires a structured and strategic approach. With over 8,000 operational members, the process is vastly different from that of smaller security entities or police forces with only a few hundred officers.
“Simply purchasing and distributing cameras without the necessary technological infrastructure would be ineffective and unsustainable.”
According to the High Command, body-worn cameras generate substantial amounts of video footage, which must be securely stored and managed for extended periods, particularly when required for investigative and judicial purposes.
“Recognising the challenges involved, the JCF prioritised the development of the infrastructure needed to support the widespread deployment of body-worn cameras. Over the past three years, several billion dollars have been invested in data storage solutions, network capacity, and digital security systems to ensure that the cameras function reliably and the data they capture remains secure,” the High Command said.
It stated that, with a foundation now in place, the JCF has moved on to expanding the number of cameras in use.
“The JCF currently has 750 body-worn cameras, a figure that has been publicly documented and reported. Additional cameras are already in procurement and will be deployed before the end of the calendar year.
“Given the current availability of cameras, a deployment strategy has been implemented to maximise their effectiveness. The primary focus has been on public order policing, where body-worn cameras have already contributed to a reduction in confrontations and improved accountability in police-citizen interactions. It must be clearly understood that operational deployment decisions are made by the JCF, based on strategic priorities and operational needs.”
Meanwhile, JFJ said while it acknowledged that security officers have the right to defend themselves – with reasonable and proportionate force based on the nature of an attack – it believed the lack of body-worn cameras and the rising number of fatal shootings create an environment of suspicion that may erode public confidence in law enforcement.
“Body cameras provide an unbiased record of events, protecting both officers and civilians and ensuring that the truth is preserved for investigations and judicial processes,” JFJ said as it joined INDECOM’s call, made last November, for the immediate implementation of body-worn cameras across all security force planned operations and in communities where zones of special operations or a states of public emergency have been declared.
“JFJ also calls on lawmakers to legislate key aspects of the protocol governing the body-worn cameras, including mandating the wearing and activation of the cameras, where failure to wear or activate without reasonable explanation may result in strong disciplinary actions. These measures are not just mere recommendations – they are a necessity for a society that values justice, transparency, and the rule of law.”