Body-worn Cameras in Jamaica

Recording Trust: A New Chapter for Policing: Body-worn Cameras Deployed at JCF

By Dr. Leo Gilling

I have to say, I am genuinely encouraged to hear that 1,000 body-worn cameras are being deployed across the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The word deployed is important. It should mean more than distribution—it should mean that officers are fully trained, properly outfitted, and operationally supported to use these devices as part of their daily policing practice.

True deployment also means that the Government has invested in the full ecosystem required for body-worn cameras to function effectively. This includes adequate digital storage capacity, secure data management systems, and maintenance and replacement agreements so that damaged or malfunctioning cameras can be repaired or replaced immediately. Without these supports, cameras risk becoming symbolic rather than transformational.

Equally critical is training on activation protocols. Officers must be trained—and required—to activate cameras before interactions with citizens begin, not after tensions have already escalated. Capturing the entire encounter is essential, both for accountability and for evidentiary integrity. I am confident that policies are being developed or refined to guide the review of recordings, the release of footage upon lawful request, and the appropriate redaction of sensitive material to protect privacy.

Privacy, particularly in the Jamaican context, deserves careful attention. This includes redacting personal, non-incriminating activities, sensitive family interactions, or private spaces within a citizen’s home. Officers must be clearly trained on what to record and what not to record, especially when entering private residences, interacting with minors, or responding to domestic or mental-health-related calls. Clear guidelines protect citizens and officers.

When used properly, body-worn cameras protect everyone. They protect officers from false accusations and provide objective accounts of difficult, high-stress encounters. They also protect citizens by increasing transparency and reinforcing lawful, respectful policing. International research consistently shows that both officers and civilians modify their behavior when they know they are being recorded—often resulting in fewer complaints, reduced use of force, and more professional interactions overall.

For Jamaica, the benefits go even further. Body-worn cameras can:

• Strengthen public trust in policing, particularly in communities where relationships have been strained

• Improve case quality and conviction rates by providing reliable, real-time evidence

• Support internal accountability and supervision, allowing leadership to identify both misconduct and exemplary policing

• Serve as a powerful training tool, using real encounters to improve decision-making, communication, and tactical responses

My advice to police leadership is simple and emphatic: training, training, training. Officers must fully understand why body-worn cameras matter—not just that they are required. When officers see cameras as tools for protection, professionalism, and credibility rather than punishment, adoption becomes cultural, not forced.

Body-worn cameras create a form of evidence that Jamaican law enforcement has long needed—objective, contemporaneous, and difficult to dispute. If implemented thoughtfully and supported consistently, this initiative has the potential to mark a meaningful step forward in modernizing policing, strengthening justice outcomes, and rebuilding public confidence across Jamaica.