'Will body-worn cameras be used in planned operations?' - JFJ asks JCF

Rights group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) says it welcomes the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) procurement of 1,000 body-worn cameras but wants to know whether the devices will be activated in planned police operations (PPOs).

“This marks meaningful progress toward greater transparency and accountability in policing, a goal JFJ has long supported,” the group said in a statement on Wednesday.

On Monday, the JCF announced the latest acquisition, saying the cameras will be deployed in formations with high citizen engagement.

However, JFJ noted that while the JCF has indicated deployment is guided by operational need, training readiness, and established governance protocols, “it remains unclear what these criteria apply to Planned Police Operations.”

The group pointed to data from the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), which shows 311 fatal shootings by security forces in 2025—the highest since 2010—with PPOs accounting for 51% of fatalities in the first seven months, up from 40% in 2024. Area Fugitive Apprehension Teams (AFATs) accounted for 51% of deployments and 47% of fatalities, up sharply from previous years.

“The persistent absence or non-activation of body-worn cameras in these operations has been flagged as a critical gap,” JFJ said, referencing INDECOM’s October 2025 Special Investigative Report.

JFJ posed two key questions to the JCF: “Will BWCs be deployed and activated in PPOs, particularly those involving AFATs? [And] what percentage of PPO and AFAT teams have completed BWC training and are operationally ready as of January 2026?”

The group also called for stronger legislation and regulations to support the 2021 Body-Worn Cameras Policy, urging clear rules on activation, handling of non-compliance, disciplinary measures, and privacy protections.

The JCF, in its January 12 statement, described the acquisition as a key part of its transformation and accountability agenda.

“The acquisition and active deployment of these 1,000 body-worn cameras firmly institutionalise accountability for both the police and the public. These devices create an objective and verifiable record of police–citizen interactions, holding all parties to a clear standard of lawful and responsible conduct,” the force said.

INDECOM, which investigates certain security force-related incidents involving civilians, has urged the use of body-worn cameras in planned operations.

In 2024, National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang said the “primary benefit” of body-worn cameras is the maintenance of public order such as its use in the apprehension of street vendors.

“It (a body-worn camera) is of very little value. You don’t need to be an expert to understand ... you put a camera on your chest, you start shooting at somebody, they start shooting at you, you going to dive for cover,” he said.

So far in 2026, up to January 14, INDECOM has reported 18 fatalities from 18 security force operations.

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