Jamaicans increasingly afraid of the police, says Jackson

OPPOSITION spokesman on national security Fitz Jackson says there is a growing number of Jamaicans who are afraid of the security forces. He made the assertion in the House of Representatives on Tuesday while posing questions to Dr Horace Chang, the minister of national security and peace. Chang had earlier presented a statement to the Parliament in which he pointed to the historic gains being made by the Jamaica Constabulary Force in reducing murders. He provided statistics that showed that, as of Tuesday, October 6, Jamaica had recorded 407 murders, compared with 534 during the corresponding period in 2025. This represents a reduction of 24 per cent. The statistics also showed that between July and September, Jamaica recorded 123 murders, the lowest quarterly figure recorded in more than three decades. September recorded 36 murders, the lowest monthly total in more than 30 years. It was the fourth month this year in which the country recorded 40 or fewer murders. When he rose to ask questions, Jackson, the Member of Parliament for St Catherine Southern, welcomed the sustained reductions in murders and lauded the security forces. “The reduction of murders, and the reduction of crime generally, is the desire and expectation of all Jamaicans and all well-thinking people generally,” said Jackson. “The reduction is what we on the Opposition have always called for, yearned for, and pushed the Government towards achieving,” he added to snickers from the Government benches. Jackson argued that these numbers “didn’t just fall out of the sky”. He said the numbers evolved from an extended period of high murder rates under the current Government which has been in office since 2016. “While we welcome the reduction, 407 murders to date, what is also of concern is that as of today, there are 231 deaths at the hands of the security forces. That’s more than 50 per cent of the murders reported by criminals,” said Jackson. He said the high level of police killings should concern all Jamaicans. He quoted from a section of the statement made by Chang, telling the Parliament that he endorsed it. The security minister had remarked, “As we continue to reduce murders and other serious crimes, greater attention must now be placed on public order. We must ensure that the way in which the police engage citizens is professional, proportionate and respectful. We want effective enforcement while maintaining a strong relationship between the police and the public.” “That is most welcome,” said Jackson. But he expressed concern that “when the occasions of interaction between citizens and the police result in 231 [fatal shootings] over the same period, it defies this statement”. Said Jackson, “We want a Jamaica where everyone, regardless of where you live, can see the police as your partner in security. We do not want a situation as is evidenced by the records, that there are growing numbers of Jamaicans who are afraid of the police.” Jackson told Government members that it is not convenient for them to look at the numbers on one side of the picture. “We have to look at the complete picture,” he insisted. He told Chang that when history is written, it should state that “crime reduction in this country occurred in an environment where all Jamaicans felt safe and not afraid of our security forces”. The Opposition spokesman told the House that one way of achieving a balanced approach to crime-fighting and having all of Jamaica embracing the security forces is the policy enactment of body-worn cameras by the security forces, particularly when they embark on planned operations. “[In] every incident of police fatality you can write what the script is going to be and just put in the [new] name and the address,” Jackson stated. He said the only difference was the shooting death of Latoya “Buju” Bulgin in Montego Bay, St James, by the police. In that case, the incident was captured on surveillance cameras and contradicted aspects of the statement issued by the police. Following an investigation by the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom), Police Constable Andrew Wilson was charged with murder.