Accountability bodies yearn for police body cams
... as cops kill at least 93 in 100 days
Published:Friday | April 11, 2025 | 12:10 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
Otarah Byfield-Nugent, CEO of the Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA), has underscored the need for proper infrastructure before law- enforcement officers can effectively utilise body-worn cameras.
“It makes no sense to have them wearing them and don’t have the necessary storage capacity, storage infrastructure, the policy as to how it should be instituted, and how it should be operated. All those things have to be in place before we now move to that next step,” she told The Gleaner.
The killing of 93 individuals by police since this year has renewed concerns about the absence of body-worn cameras during security forces operations.
In February, human rights lobby Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) stressed that the absence of this critical device “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.
Byfield-Nugent echoed those sentiments, stressing that the use of body-worn cameras not only fosters accountability, but also provides critical “objective evidence” in contentious situations. As head of the agency responsible for monitoring, inspecting, and auditing the implementation of policies and procedures within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), she affirmed that the PCOA “will always be concerned when any life is taken at any point in time”.
“What the PCOA will always be concerned about, in terms of his mandate as well, is whether the rules are followed in the particular situation,” Byfield-Nugent said.
JFJ revealed that in 2023, there were 155 fatal shootings by members of the security forces – none of which involved the use of operational body-worn cameras. The situation worsened in 2024, with the number climbing to 189 – a 34 per cent increase. The figures make 2024 the deadliest year in more than a decade since 2013 recorded 258 such incidents.
But the figures for this year so far reflect a 165 per cent increase when compared with the same period in 2024.
Hugh Faulkner, commissioner of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), said his agency is eager to see body-worn cameras integrated into routine and planned police operations.
“We are looking forward to the day when the cameras are put in operations, and primarily, we are looking for the implementation of body-worn cameras with the police planned operations,” Faulkner told The Gleaner.
He stated that the oversight body would “appreciate expedition” in the process that would advance investigative integrity, transparency, and accountability.
In February, the JCF indicated that it had prioritised the development of 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,” it said.
It noted that 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.
It stated that with a foundation now in place, it has moved on to expanding the number of cameras in use. It said that the JCF currently has 750 body-worn cameras in place and that additional cameras are in procurement to be deployed before the end of the year.