INDECOM warns police against tampering with CCTV systems
Published:Friday | October 10, 2025 | 12:07 AM
The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has raised concerns over reports that some members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) are removing, destroying, or tampering with private and public CCTV cameras during police operations – a practice the oversight body says is unacceptable and must be stopped.
INDECOM is calling on the Office of the Police Commissioner to issue a clear directive prohibiting such actions, with firm consequences for officers who fail to comply.
Speaking to The Gleaner yesterday, INDECOM Assistant Commissioner Hamish Campbell confirmed that the agency had seen multiple instances of officers interfering with surveillance equipment.
“We have seen it enough to recognise that it is a trend,” Campbell said, noting that in at least one case, video footage showed an officer dislodging a camera.
“There are one or two cases where we actually see an officer, whether identified or not – because sometimes they have their faces covered – we can see somebody dislodging or moving it,” he said.
Campbell also revealed that property owners whose cameras were removed by police have submitted statements to INDECOM confirming the installations. Some of these individuals reported that their surveillance devices were later found discarded in gullies or near their premises.
INDECOM formally reported these incidents to the police commissioner last week.
According to Campbell, the issue has become more noticeable since a police shooting on Windward Road in Kingston last November was caught on CCTV. Since then, there has been a rise in reports of police interfering with surveillance cameras during operations.
In addition to addressing the CCTV issue, INDECOM has made several other recommendations to improve police accountability and procedure.
It has suggested that all recovered firearms be formally and correctly placed within a forensic recovery bag for transport and photography.
It said the collection of firearms and placing them in informal packaging, wrappings, coverings, or pockets should desist. Such equipment should be available on planned operations.
At the same time, the oversight body is advising that consideration be given for justices of the peace (JPs) to affix the time of their authorisations in addition to the date on a search warrant. It said all warrants should be legible to identify the JP authorising the document.
Further, INDECOM is urging JPs to ensure that all search warrants, authorised by them, are applied for under the correct legislation.