KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica Customs Agency says that over 100 customs officers must wear body cameras when dealing with the public.
According to the agency, this first-of-a-kind initiative is expected to provide a more accurate record of customer encounters, foster improved relations, increase transparency, and improve the quality of evidence collected for decision-making.
Customs CEO/Commissioner Velma Ricketts Walker, who disclosed at a recent meeting, highlighted the initiative’s importance in delivering the agency’s core values.
“Jamaica Customs, as a law enforcement agency, fully embraces greater accountability and transparency in our operations, interactions, and engagements with our importing and exporting publics, as well as air passengers,” Ricketts Walker noted.
To this end,” she added, “we see the body-worn cameras as a useful tool to further enhance our ability to gather information, review…as well as provide evidence for investigation where necessary.”
Walker also reiterated that including body-worn cameras would help build trust with the agency’s stakeholders.
She further stated that to maintain the integrity of the process, an “organized and structured policy has been developed to govern the use of the body-worn cameras, with the appropriate legislative support and appreciation for data collection.”
Recently, there has been a call for increased digital recording during interactions between law enforcement officers and the public.
In response, other local law enforcement organizations have already adopted this technology to improve the quality of policing.
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