Jamaica’s crime chiefs rely on tech for results

Jamaica’s recent decrease in crime stems in part to its increased use of technology, claims its Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

He said the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is on track to become a regional leader in using technology to fight crime. Holness was speaking last Friday during a visit to the JCF’s ‘Transformations – People, Quality and Technology Expo 2.0’ held at the National Arena in St. Andrew. The event ran for four days. It showed how the JCF has used technology and refined protocols to improve efficiency.

Holness toured the displays and listened to Detective Sergeant Artelle Anderson explain how police collect and protect evidence from crime scenes. He described the expo as a clear display of the long-term investment in crime-fighting tools. “The use of technology gives us a strong advantage in the fight against crime,” Holness said. He explained that this progress is the result of nine years of planning under a national program called ‘Plan Secure Jamaica.’

In addition to new technology, Holness said money has also gone into training charismatic leaders — not just in the JCF, but also in the military, customs, and anti-corruption agencies. He believes the leadership team in the JCF is of an exceptional standard who follow a system focused on doing their job well, reducing crime, and respecting people’s rights and lives.

According to Holness, the government has spent J$90 billion (US$560 million) on security since 2016. This investment is working, as murders and other serious crimes are decreasing, and more criminal gangs are losing impact.

The technology expo was also held at the Montego Bay Community College in St. James. More than 40 JCF divisions showed their work, especially how they help reduce crime and support young people in Jamaica. Some technological solutions already being used by the Ministry include the ‘Stay Alert’ application, ‘JamaicaEye’ initiative, and WhatsApp. The Stay Alert crime-fighting mechanism has a panic mode which, when activated, notifies the police that the user is in an emergency situation and requires assistance. More use of CCTV cameras and bodycams helps too.