Dear Editor,

Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) is deeply alarmed by the sharp increase in fatal shootings by security force members since the start of 2025. The year-to-date figure of 50 fatal shootings more than double the comparable period in 2024, which stood at 19 fatalities. This represents an unacceptable and troubling trend that threatens Jamaica’s democratic principles and human rights advancements.

If this trend persists, Jamaica risks regressing to the dark days before the establishment of the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom), when accountability for security force actions was virtually non-existent. The progress we have made in the past decade in holding law enforcement accountable and protecting human rights is at serious risk.

Since the start of 2025, police-involved fatal shootings have occurred at an alarming frequency, with at least one citizen killed almost daily by members of the security forces. If this trend continues, Jamaica could see over 250 citizens killed by members of the security forces by the end of the year — a number that could rival the dark 2000s and certainly the 258 fatalities recorded in 2013.

JFJ makes no assertions that these incidents are extrajudicial killings, as each incident must be assessed on its own unique facts. However, beyond the intolerably high numbers is a common pattern in Indecom’s statements: no body-worn cameras were reported as issued or worn in these fatal encounters.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has stated that additional data storage infrastructure is needed to expand the use of body-worn cameras. We, however, demand a concrete timeline from the JCF leadership on when the data storage infrastructure will attain capacity to ensure that body-worn cameras are effectively utilised in all police operations.

JCF’s leadership has also indicated that 750 cameras are already deployed and in use. However, JFJ asks a reasonable yet obvious question: Where are the body-worn cameras in these fatal incidents?

JFJ underscores the importance of upholding the rule of law, particularly amid rising crime rates. Now more than ever, law enforcement must operate with the highest levels of transparency and accountability. We cannot allow this rollback to continue unchecked.

Jamaicans For Justice