This CVM Panel Discussion explored the trajectory of Jamaica’s crime situation as well as the Emergency Powers Act 2021, with security practitioner Lieutenant Commander George Overton and Professor Anthony Clayton.
Regarding the latest quarterly report from the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), Professor Anthony Clayton noted that the increase in the the number of alleged assaults may be partly a result of the increase in law enforcement interaction with citizens due to the Disaster Risk Management Act, (DRMA) as they try to get them to follow the regulations. He added that when looking at instance of use of violence or use of force by the police it is important that it is put in context, as are these cases instance where the police had to resort to the use of force, because they are under attack. He added that in many of these cases this is exactly the reason.
Meanwhile on the same point, Lieutenant Commander George Overton added that when numbers of allegations like these are reported in a study, one should question how many of these cases have been investigated and how many of these cases have the police been found at fault. The Commander also noted in regards to the enforcement of the Emergency Powers Act across the island, that the increase in Jamaica’s crime rate is not because of an absence of a State of Emergency, (SOE). However he noted that it is still a useful tool to suppress and contain the crime level in the country.
