Anthony Henry

Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) has welcomed the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) announcement that procurement of 1,000 Axon Body Camera III devices has been completed, while calling for clarification on how the cameras will be deployed during planned police operations.

In a statement issued Wednesday, JFJ said the acquisition represents “meaningful progress” toward improved transparency and accountability in policing, noting that the organisation has long advocated for the use of body-worn cameras.

The JCF announced on January 12 that deployment of the cameras is at an advanced stage and will prioritise areas of high citizen engagement, guided by operational need, training readiness and governance protocols.

However, JFJ said it remains unclear how these criteria apply to Planned Police Operations (PPOs), which have accounted for a significant proportion of fatal police shootings.

Citing data from the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), JFJ noted that 311 fatal shootings by security forces were recorded in 2025, the highest figure since 2010, with PPOs accounting for 51 per cent of fatalities in the first seven months of the year, up from 40 per cent in 2024.

The organisation further pointed to the role of the Area Fugitive Apprehension Teams (AFATs), which it said accounted for 51 per cent of PPO deployments and 47 per cent of fatalities in the first half of 2025, compared to five per cent of deployments and three per cent of fatalities in 2022.

JFJ said the absence or non-activation of body-worn cameras during these operations was highlighted as a critical concern in INDECOM’s October 2025 special investigative report.

Against this background, JFJ is seeking clarification from the JCF on whether body-worn cameras will be deployed and activated during PPOs, particularly those involving AFATs, and what proportion of PPO and AFAT personnel have completed training and are operationally ready to use the devices as of January 2026.

The organisation referenced a September 29, 2025, interview on Nationwide News Network in which Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake stated that body-worn cameras would be used in planned operations.

JFJ said it is urging the JCF to allocate a portion of the newly acquired cameras to PPOs and AFATs, while acknowledging the Commissioner’s caution that current numbers may not yet meet the scale required for full coverage.

The group also renewed calls for strengthened governance arrangements, including amendments to the 2021 Body-Worn Cameras Policy and Procedures and the introduction of supporting regulations to address activation requirements, disciplinary consequences for non-compliance, and privacy safeguards beyond those outlined in the Data Protection Act.

While welcoming indications from Minister of National Security and Peace Dr Horace Chang that procurement of an additional 1,000 cameras is expected in the 2026/27 financial year, JFJ cautioned against further delays, noting that similar commitments made since 2022 have not been fully realised.

JFJ said it remains willing to engage with the JCF, INDECOM and other stakeholders and reiterated its support for members of the Force, while emphasising the need for intelligence-led policing that is lawful, proportionate and accountable.