St James police push full body-camera coverage on patrols and operations

St James police want body-worn cameras rolling on every patrol and major operation, moving away from cases that rest only on officers' spoken accounts.

Senior Superintendent Eron Samuels, commanding officer of the St James Division, reported that since June the division has recorded body-camera use on 89 per cent of deployed operations. Training, supervision and tighter policy enforcement are being used to reach what he called "100 per cent compliance".

Samuels spoke on Wednesday while Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake visited Area One. He said the devices are improving openness, locking in evidence and offering safeguards for both members of the force and members of the public.

He pointed to a recent operation in which officers recovered J$41.5 million in cash as a strong illustration of that value.

"One of the main things that I'm happy about with this seizure is with the deployment of our body cameras... no one can contest the integrity of the officers who were in that operation because the body cameras were used right here," Samuels said.

According to him, the recordings covered the full sequence — from first contact through to the cash being handed over in Kingston — leaving what he called an unassailable account of what took place. The person tied to that operation was told at the start that officers' cameras were on.

"The individual in question, he was informed from the get-go that the body cameras were on... So, we have proof to see that nothing was tampered with, and everything was accounted for," he said.

Samuels said the St James Division has this year recovered 32 firearms, laid charges against more than 1,762 people, and mounted several intelligence-driven operations backed by body-worn camera recordings.

He underlined that ranks must observe the Jamaica Constabulary Force body-worn camera policy, including telling the public when cameras are active and following strict rules for storing and managing footage.

"Body-worn cameras are proving to be an indispensable tool in modern policing, enhancing transparency, protecting our officers and the public, and strengthening investigations," Samuels said.

The division, he added, will keep widening camera use until every operational encounter is filmed, in line with JCF policy and accepted best practice.