Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness engages in a virtual SWAT team simulation developed by NovaCore Labs, showcased during the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Transformations Expo last year. At left is Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang, while at right is then Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson.
When organisations embrace technology they are basically signalling that they place great value on their operational processes in order to meet targets, improve efficiency, and satisfy customer demands.
Over recent years — most notably after Major General Antony Anderson was appointed national security advisor and, following that, police commissioner — we have watched with great interest the Government’s determined push to make greater use of technology to revolutionise policing in Jamaica.
We recall very well public reaction to the technology skills and equipment the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) had on display at its Transformations Expo staged in May 2023 at the National Arena in St Andrew.
“I am seeing some technology that I did not know exists in Jamaica,” one man told the Jamaica Observer during the session before the official launch of the four-day event.
“Most of the technologies I have seen only in shows, movies, series on Netflix. So to see that the JCF is getting to a place where they are trying to integrate this technology, I must say I feel comfortable as a citizen of this country to know that there is a time coming where I will feel safe. I’ll rest comfortably knowing that the JCF have some technology in their possession that they can utilise to fight crime and make this country safe for us,” he added.
Next week the public will again get an opportunity to view the technology and other systems being used by the police at the second staging of the Transformations Expo, this time in the capital city and Montego Bay.
We expect that, just as happened at the first exposition, many Jamaicans will be surprised and impressed on seeing the tools now being used by the police and the assistance they provide in making policing more effective. It’s not, as we pointed out, by accident.
National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang reported in his contribution to the sectoral debate in Parliament almost two months ago that the Administration has “persisted in implementing a comprehensive policy for national security”… [that] “included the expansion and development of the police force, sustainable crime reduction policies, and the coordinated work of all the relevant ministries, departments and agencies”.
He also told the country that since 2016 the Government has “invested annually, on average, $9.9 billion in national security capital expenditure”. This, he said, was “three times the average annual investment” under the previous Administration.
Additionally, Dr Chang said that the police have made the integration of advanced technology into their operations a top priority.
Just last Friday, at the launch of this year’s expo, the country learnt that artificial intelligence (AI) has been introduced at police stations to tend to administrative matters, such as taking statements from the public. That will allow the JCF to place more police on the streets.
At the same time, the nation has been seeing an increase in the JamaicaEye surveillance network, with the most recent additions being those mounted on Olympic Way and the system now operational across Denham Town, the downtown business district, and Waltham Park Road.
Both systems form part of the Government’s push to install 2,500 cameras across Jamaica over three years. The cameras will provide live feed, 24 hours daily, to help police detect suspicious behaviour, monitor hot spots, and respond to incidents with greater speed and precision.
As we pointed out before, closed-circuit television (CCTV) is not a silver bullet. It will not replace good policing, community engagement, or the need for judicial reform. But it is a powerful tool and we commend the Government on that initiative, as well as its general investment in technology and other modern resources that will help the police in executing their duties.
No one can dispute that a highly trained, well-resourced, and motivated police force will deliver results. That is evident in the sharp reductions in major crimes the island has been experiencing for some months now.
We remind the Administration, however, that more needs to be done in terms of strategic investments in law enforcement and social intervention programmes to continue reducing crime to the point it becomes negligible.
