Minister of National Security Horace Chang says body-worn cameras are on the list of resources to be acquired for the police force, but they are not among the priority items at this time.

According to Chang, resources such as motor vehicles, communication system, ballistic vests and helmets are needed more urgently.

Chang made this disclosure during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, November 15, when he was quizzed by journalists about a recent concern raised by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) that body-worn cameras were not being utilised by the police during planned and unplanned operations.

“Body-worn cameras are among the many resources we have to acquire and it will be put on the list but there are priorities. I have to acquire ballistic vests, ballistic helmets, I have to acquire motor vehicles. In fact, the survey suggests that the most reassuring presence of the police in the community is patrols. For patrol vehicles to be effective, we have to ensure that there is effective communication in acquiring not only police radios but also developing the entire network of communication and providing the police a place to work from which means fixing police stations and the government undertook all of these events and continue to do so,”

MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY HORACE CHANG

“If evidence can be demonstrated that there is a great emergency, that the police are acting abusively, we will have to move faster but there is no such evidence. I think there is no question that the operation of the police force in recent times has demonstrated a level of professionalism that is commendable in all aspects of their operation. It’s a forc, we have expanded from under 11,000 to nearly 14,000 and, therefore, the odd case of unprofessional behaviour as happens in every field from not only policing, medicine which I am a member of, the pastors, you will go in the professional field with several thousand Jamaicans, there will be the odd unethical behaviour,” Chang argued as he discounted the urgent need for body-worn cameras for the police.

According to INDECOM, 106 fatal shootings by the police occurred this year between January and June, with only one body camera reported to have been worn.

Up to Monday, November 15, there were 119 fatal shooting incidents recorded by INDECOM.

Similarly, INDECOM reported that it received 346 categories of complaints for the April to June quarter of this year, which resulted from 267 incidents during the period.

The top-five categories of complaints reported to INDECOM include assault, which accounted for 114; discharge of a firearm, 56; fatal shooting, 32; threat, 26; and shooting injury,15.

Nonetheless, the security minister has praised the overall professionalism of the police, arguing that there has been increased professionalism.