Of the 76 planned police operations conducted last year, only one cop in one operation had a body worn camera which had not been activated.

This was highlighted by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) in its report tabled in Parliament yesterday. 

INDECOM stated that it has been monitoring the outcomes of planned police operations since 2013. 

It said 2024 recorded an enormous increase in fatalities arising out of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s planned police operations.

INDECOM said it is not known if the number of operations conducted by the police in 2024 increased, but operations in which persons were shot and killed, amounted to 40% of total security force fatalities in 2024. 

Seventy-six men were killed from sixty-four operations.

INDECOM said in just one operation a body worn camera was fitted to a single officer. 

That officer was the lead officer and the officer who fired. 

However the camera was not activated by the officer. 

In none of the other seventy-five cases of planned operations was a camera provided to any of the concerned officers.

INDECOM again informed Parliament that this aspect of police operations requires the urgent implementation and deployment of body worn cameras to the police.

The failure to introduce the wearing of cameras during planned policing operations has become unfathomable and untenable. 

INDECOM said it is apparent that cameras can be worn during such operations. 

Camera equipment is readily available and could be utilised by an effective distribution of the resources and does not necessitate all other police officers to be so equipped before allocating to the specialised teams conducting the operations.

INDECOM said the absence of cameras in such highly charged policing operations where the right to life is most at risk, potentially undermines the constitutional necessity to safeguard the right to life and demonstrates that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure such safeguards are being implemented.

The rationale and benefits of the cameras have previously been reported to Parliament. 

INDECOM said there still exists disquiet and suspicion that the accounts provided in such police operations are not as reported. 

It said implementation would enhance transparency and accountability to such incidents and help restore community confidence and engender police trust.