OPPOSITION spokesman on national security Fitz Jackson remains sceptical about the Government’s commitment to the full roll-out of body-worn cameras in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) despite a recent announcement by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness that his Administration is committed to the full deployment of integrated camera systems across the force.

Addressing a Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) policy roundtable on body-worn cameras on Wednesday, Jackson described as a “cop out” and “hogwash”, the excuses offered by the Government and the leadership of the JCF as to why body-worn cameras are not more widely deployed.

He charged that the Government has a duty to mandate the use of body-worn cameras by the police.

“A Government sets policies for all entities to operate in, even including the private sector and private citizens, by way of legislation, that is the law of the land,” declared Jackson days after Holness told the 91st Staff and Junior Command Course graduation exercise at the National Police College of Jamaica of the Government’s commitment to a full roll-out of 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.

“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,” Holness said.

He pointed out that approximately 1,000 body-worn cameras are now deployed in the JCF, with an additional 1,000 in procurement and further acquisitions planned as part of a phased national roll-out.

He also reported 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.

According to Holness, 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,” declared Holness.

But those arguments have not assuaged Jackson who on Wednesday said the issue has been very troubling for quite a while.

He argued that the concern about the use of body-worm cameras by the police extends beyond the relatives of people killed by State agents, to all law-abiding Jamaicans.

“With over 300-plus persons killed by the police during the last year and almost 140 in five months of this year, this cannot be seen as business as usual,” said Jackson.

He underscored that while the reduction in murders and shootings of civilians is most welcome, “crime reduction goals are not to be seen as the pretext or cover to do anything and anyhow”.

Jackson told the roundtable that “such acts constitute desperation, birthed from failed alternative policing policies, sanctioned by the Government”.

He said that in circumstances where the police go in search of people said to be wanted, they must at all times seek to ensure that they can justify the use of their weapons.

“I believe it has now become universal that an independent and non-subjective eye is the best available source for all concerned,” said Jackson as he pointed out that the Opposition fully supports the mandatory use of body-worn cameras in all planned operations of the JCF.

He told the round table that one main reason why police all over the world wear body-worn cameras is to promote transparency and accountability.

“This provides for objectivity in capturing and recording interactions between officers and the public. It assists with evidence collection and officer protection, de-escalation, training, and evaluation.

“These fundamental reasons must command how we go about seeking to protect our people,” declared Jackson.