INDECOM concerned about recent public statements made by Dr. Horace Chang, dismissing the use of BWCs by police during planned operations

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) says it has critical concerns about recent public statements made by National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang dismissing the use of body-worn cameras (BWCs) by police officers during planned operations.

INDECOM and other civil society groups have been calling for increased use of BWCs.

According to INDECOM last year 311 persons were fatally shot by members of the security forces, the highest figure recorded since 2010.

This was a 65% increase over the previous year.

So far in 2026, there have been 105 such deaths compared to 102 last year.

INDECOM in a statement says planned police operations accounted for approximately 50% of fatalities in 2025.

The police oversight body says these figures demonstrate that the necessity for the use of BWCs is not abstract or academic.

it points out that it goes directly to the preservation of life, public confidence and the ability of independent authorities to properly determine the circumstances in which lethal force is used by representatives of the state.

INDECOM says body worn cameras are now a standard feature of modern policing across numerous jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and Brazil, and are routinely used by officers engaged in firearm, tactical and other high-risk operations.

INDECOM says to characterize their use in such settings as unreasonable or impractical is inconsistent with established international policing practices.

According to the Commission it does not presume that every police fatal shooting is unlawful nor is it ideologically opposed to the lawful use of force by the security forces.

INDECOM says its duty is to determine independently and fairly what occurred in each case adding that where no independent footage exists, investigators and courts are often left to assess life-and-death incidents based solely on conflicting verbal accounts.

The INDECOM statement adds that international research strongly supports the use of body worn cameras.

INDECOM says assertions that BWCs create unacceptable operational risk are not supported by global experiences noting that modern BWCs are compact, durable and specifically designed for frontline use.

It says police services worldwide have addressed issues of placement, activation, battery life and tactical integration through policy, procurement and training.

INDECOM states that as the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) continues its procurement processes, BWC equipment suitable to Jamaica’s operational realities can and should be prioritized.

INDECOM says it does not seek to instruct the Police Commissioner on operational tactics nor interfere with the executive functions of the Ministry of National Security but rather makes recommendations to encourage the adoption of measures that enhance operational effectiveness and mutual trust between law enforcement and civilians.

The Commission is renewing its call for clear and enforceable policies requiring the implementation and activation of BWCs in any encounter where lethal force is reasonably foreseeable.

INDECOM further calls upon the government in keeping with its constitutional and international right-to-life obligations to mandate the use of BWCs by the security forces, beginning with planned police operations where fatal shootings remain disproportionately high.