Press Release From The Office Of The Prime Minister - May 24, 2026
The Honourable, Dr Andrew Holness
Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has reiterated the Government’s commitment to the full deployment of integrated camera systems across the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), including body-worn cameras, patrol car cameras, and national surveillance infrastructure, as part of a broader drive to strengthen accountability and operational effectiveness within the Force.
Prime Minister Holness said the policy direction is clear: technology must increasingly support modern policing and enhance the transparency of police-citizen interactions, particularly in high-risk and high-contact environments.
“The policy of the Government is to fully deploy camera systems for the police force. Just to be clear, there have been some discussions that seem to suggest that the government doesn't intend that everyone who interacts with the public should have a body camera. That's not the case,” Prime Minister Holness stated.
He explained that the broader system includes closed-circuit television coverage integrated into command and control centres, the continued expansion of the JamaicaEye surveillance network, and the development of a modern C5-type command centre to enhance national security coordination.
The Prime Minister also noted that while limited capability currently exists, work is underway to equip police patrol vehicles with in-car camera systems, which will form part of the wider technological architecture supporting frontline policing and operational oversight.
Turning to body-worn cameras, Prime Minister Holness said approximately 1,000 units are currently deployed within the JCF, with an additional 1,000 in procurement and further acquisitions planned as part of a phased national rollout.
He emphasized that the implementation of body-worn cameras is being undertaken in stages to ensure that the necessary supporting systems, which include training, broadband connectivity, secure data storage, and evidentiary management frameworks, are fully in place.
“We simply don't have the resources to do it all at once. There is an entire suite of activities that have to be in place before body-worn cameras become universally systemized within the JCF,” he added.
He further noted that the deployment of camera systems must reflect operational realities and varying field conditions.
“The form factor, meaning the design of the camera, can work well in certain circumstances, such as patrolling a market or conducting traffic stops, where the image is stable and hand movement does not obstruct visibility. There are situations where the body-worn camera, which is placed on the chest, is effective and appropriate. However, there are other operational contexts in which it may not work as well. In some tactical operations, for example, if an officer is crawling on the ground, the camera may be facing downward. At night or in conditions involving smoke, visibility may also be compromised. That does not mean such operations would not be covered by camera systems. Rather, the police force would need to deploy the form factor of a camera that best suits the specific operational environment,” he explained.
Prime Minister Holness emphasized that the Government’s objective is to ensure that all appropriate police-citizen interactions are captured through suitable technological solutions while safeguarding officer safety and the success of police operations.
“Just to put everybody at ease, there is no intent to say some units will have cameras and some won't. The intent is to make sure that there is this tool of accountability for our officers. And, as far as possible, that tool will be deployed as long as it does not compromise the safety of the officer or the success of a mission. Those are the general parameters within which we will deploy cameras. I want to put Jamaica at ease that we are in the process of deploying cameras. We will deploy them universally as much as possible within the Force, but we are building out the systems to ensure that these cameras work and that what they capture has evidentiary value.”
Dr. Holness said the expansion of police camera systems forms part of a wider transformation of the security architecture, designed to strengthen public trust, improve accountability, and enhance the evidentiary integrity of policing in Jamaica.
The Prime Minister was speaking on Friday (May 22) at the 91ˢᵗ Staff and Junior Command Course graduation exercise at the National Police College of Jamaica.
Editor's Note
The Prime Minister has made this announcement more than once and I know some cameras have been purchased. I still hear Jamaica For Justice calling for the police to wear body cameras!
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This sounds about right. I have also listened to the police commissioner and I accept his words. The policy is in place, but the infrastructure also is required. Broadband connectivity and secure data storage and being able to retrieve data. Let's be sensible about all the issues
ReplyDeleteWhat hypocrisy! After how long now? They were pressured into doing this. This is not good governance.
ReplyDelete