Dear Editor,
The recent announcement by the Jamaican Government to have police officers wear body cameras does not address the issue of extrajudicial killings by the police in any meaningful and significant way. I agree that something has to be done, and indeed having body cameras is a small step. However, the time for more monumental measures to address the indiscriminate use of force by some of our police officers is now.
In a society where the public's perception of the police is one of being corrupt, and where citizens refuse to give critical information to the police because of same, merely fitting cameras to the body of police officers does not go far enough to restore the public image of the force.
A corrupt police officer without a body camera is still corrupt. We need to urgently reform the Jamaica Constabulary Force by addressing the systemic problems of this institution to address the needs of the Jamaican people.
Notwithstanding this, a number of questions must be asked, for example, which agency of the State will be responsible for analysing footage from these cameras should the need arise? What if the police officer does not turn on his/her camera, what are the sanctions that will be in place to address such circumstances?
We need to rid the police force of corrupt officers and create a culture of professionalism. We need to ensure that corrupt officers become so uncomfortable in the force that they leave on their own accord.
Since we are going the route of cameras, why not also retrofit police cars with them?
We need to raise the entry requirement of the police force and be more vigilant in how we recruit officers. We need to administer psychometric tests on all applicants. If we fix the force at source we may yet restore it to an exemplary institution, one in which we all can be proud.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
Body cameras are just step 1
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The recent announcement by the Jamaican Government to have police officers wear body cameras does not address the issue of extrajudicial killings by the police in any meaningful and significant way. I agree that something has to be done, and indeed having body cameras is a small step. However, the time for more monumental measures to address the indiscriminate use of force by some of our police officers is now.
In a society where the public's perception of the police is one of being corrupt, and where citizens refuse to give critical information to the police because of same, merely fitting cameras to the body of police officers does not go far enough to restore the public image of the force.
A corrupt police officer without a body camera is still corrupt. We need to urgently reform the Jamaica Constabulary Force by addressing the systemic problems of this institution to address the needs of the Jamaican people.
Notwithstanding this, a number of questions must be asked, for example, which agency of the State will be responsible for analysing footage from these cameras should the need arise? What if the police officer does not turn on his/her camera, what are the sanctions that will be in place to address such circumstances?
We need to rid the police force of corrupt officers and create a culture of professionalism. We need to ensure that corrupt officers become so uncomfortable in the force that they leave on their own accord.
Since we are going the route of cameras, why not also retrofit police cars with them?
We need to raise the entry requirement of the police force and be more vigilant in how we recruit officers. We need to administer psychometric tests on all applicants. If we fix the force at source we may yet restore it to an exemplary institution, one in which we all can be proud.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
Body cameras are just step 1
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