HUMAN rights group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) is standing its ground on its demand for body-worn cameras to be worn by cops on major operations, despite a declaration by Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang that this is not on the cards.

Chang told a post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday that members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) on operations where they are likely to be confronted by armed men will not be wearing cameras.

Chang, who is also the deputy prime minister, dismissed the call for cameras to be worn on all police operations as “a crazy idea”.

But at the JFJ’s annual general meeting in New Kingston on Thursday, Executive Director Mickel Jackson argued that if wearing body cameras when confronting armed criminals will put members of the JCF in danger, the Government should ensure that it procures cameras for the cops which can be switched to stealth mode.

According to Jackson, the JFJ’s position is driven by data.

“[In] an organisation like JFJ we are guided by evidence in our policies and our positions that we put forward,” said Jackson.

She told the meeting that JFJ has had the benefit of a learning exchange where members were able to view body cameras being worn by police officers across the United States.

“We saw how they operate, we learnt from the experiences of police departments across the United States. Outside of that, we have done an extensive policy and legislative review and will be launching a document in a few weeks,” Jackson said.

“That is the reason for the organisation calling for the mandatory use of the body cameras,” added Jackson.

The outspoken executive director said JFJ has reviewed policies on body cameras and, “I’m putting that in perspective so that the public understands that when JFJ speaks, we’re guided by data. When JFJ speaks and we make recommendations to Parliament, it’s based on that data and the research that we have done.”

She reiterated that research indicates that body cameras can go into stealth mode, which would provide protection for cops.

“Because at no point would we want our police officers who are doing extraordinarily good work to put themselves at risk.

“The organisation is not naïve to the reality that in some instances there are criminals who are going to be confronting the police, and the police is required by law, moral requirement, and quite frankly common sense, that if their lives are at risk they must defend themselves and other civilians,” Jackson stated.

“Having said that, the stealth mode is one that can be utilised,” added Jackson.

She argued if the existing body cameras the Government has procured are unable to go into stealth mode where red lights are going to be flashing and so on, then “I ask reasonable Jamaicans to join us in asking this question: ‘Why is there not the process of procuring body cameras that can be utilised in those particular situations?’ Because those body cameras also exist.”

Jackson declared that body cameras are not anti-police, rather they enhance transparency.

She pointed out that a number of legal cases received by JFJ in 2025 had a recurring theme: “The child’s mother, or the person who died or was killed, they were at home at four o’clock in the morning, sleeping. There is a thump at the door, ‘Open yuh door.’

“They open the door, the girlfriend is asked to remove herself from the room, take the child, two minutes after, gunshots are heard.”

Jackson highlighted that in some of these cases warrant-less searches were conducted.

“If it is that we have conflicting accounts between the complainants, citizens, witnesses and law enforcement, then the body cameras will provide that independent account and will enhance the scrutiny that we know is necessary for accountability to be put in place,” she argued.

The executive director stressed that JFJ is neither anti-police nor anti-Government, and often engages members of the JCF in various types of training.

However, she disclosed that Chang has basically given the civil society organisation the cold shoulder.

“I have written to the Deputy Prime Minister Dr Horace Chang extending an invitation for a meeting; we have not yet been afforded even a response,” she shared.

Jackson also said the research launched by JFJ a few weeks ago was shared with Chang’s office but so far the entity has not received a response.

“So JFJ, we are never the ones who are anti-anything, quite the contrary. We put ourselves forward, even when the Government does not respond to the organisation,” declared Jackson.

JACKSON… body cameras will provide that independent account and will enhance the scrutiny that we know is necessary for accountability to be put in place