Executive director of the Integrity Commission (IC) Craig Beresford has revealed that persistent threats against the agency’s staff, including what he described as veiled threats on social media, have become so serious that the anti-corruption watchdog has been forced to increase its security spending and seek assistance from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

Speaking Tuesday during a press conference to discuss the IC’s annual report, Beresford said the safety of employees has emerged as one of the body’s most pressing challenges, warning that the hostile environment in which staff operate is making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain experienced personnel.

“I don’t know if the media follows social media as much as we do, but there are many comments, veiled threats against our staff, and I must say it’s not everyone has a stomach for it,” said Beresford.

“It’s a major challenge, and we want the support of the Jamaican people. We’re working on behalf of the Jamaican people, and I went to pains to indicate the process of enhanced due diligence, the removal of any perception of bias by ensuring that an external firm handles our recruitment process for highly sensitive positions around executive positions. It shows that we’re here to work for you, and some persons cannot stomach the fact that we are working on behalf of the people, and the people are attacking them,” he added.

The disclosure came as the IC’s 2025/26 annual report identified employee safety and physical security as an unresolved concern, stating that the agency had engaged key stakeholders in an effort to address the issue but was still pursuing a solution.

Pressed by journalists to explain the nature of the security concerns, Beresford disclosed that the Commission had substantially increased spending to protect its employees following a serious incident years ago.

“We had an incident sometime, three years ago, I think. And because of that incident, we had to heighten security. We didn’t first tell the reason or the motive behind it. That’s not important. Something happened, and our staff has been placed at risk. So we have increased our security budget in that respect,” he recalled.

Although Beresford did not identify the incident, the IC has previously pointed to a September 2023 incident involving its Director of Corruption Prevention Ryan Evans in the car park of the agency’s New Kingston offices.

Members of the Integrity Commission speaking, Tuesday, during a press conference to discuss this year’s annual report. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Evans was shot and injured during what police said was a robbery during which his briefcase was stolen. The attack triggered widespread condemnation from the Government, political leaders and civil society. The IC has repeatedly expressed concern that the crime remains unsolved.

The security concerns, Beresford suggested, extend beyond physical protection and are now affecting the commission’s ability to attract and keep qualified employees, particularly as the agency struggles with staff turnover.

As a result, he noted, the commission has turned to the police for assistance even as it continues strengthening security arrangements for its employees.

“As it concerns ongoing stakeholder engagement, we have engaged — and I can say openly, I think we did mention it in our last annual report – the JCF. JCF conducts certain assessments and determines the accuracy of their needs and recommendations. Those discussions are ongoing, so we hope that we land somewhere very, very soon,” he said.

Beresford also noted that exit interviews showed that while pay remained the main reason employees were leaving, the increasingly hostile environment was compounding the problem.

The annual report shows that the IC recruited 39 employees during the 2025/26 financial year but lost 29 members of staff, contributing to a 19 per cent turnover rate among fixed-term employees.

It says the cost of replacing and training workers continues to affect the organisation’s efficiency, while compensation challenges have made it harder to compete for specialised professionals.