Jamaica's Police Watchdog Indecom has expressed its alarm over the surge of fatal shootings by police in the island during the first days of January 2026. Our correspondent Krystal Hoyte with the report. teleSUR
00:00And now we go to Jamaica's police watchdog Indicom has expressed its alarm over the surge of fatal shootings by police in the island during the first days of January 2026. Our correspondent Crystal Hoyer with the report.
00:14Jamaica's police watchdog Indicom is sounding the alarm over a shocking surge in fatal shootings, with 17 people dead at the hands of security forces in the first eight days of 2026.
00:30That's a 183% increase over the same period last year when six people were killed. Among the dead, three minors, including four-year-old Romain Bowman, killed while sleeping in his home in Grenville, St. James.
00:46The Independent Commission of Investigations reported eight people were killed on January 1st in incidents across St. James, Westmoreland and Kingston. Four more died January 5th in Manchester and five additional deaths followed through January 8th.
01:05Deputy Commissioner Yannick Taylor-Werlington issued a statement noting 311 persons were shot and killed by police in 2025, a 65% increase over 2024.
01:19Human rights advocate Mikkel Jackson of Jamaicans for Justice called it a troubling pattern.
01:24If we ended on a high in 2025 with 311, let's put in context that 17 that has since been recorded in the first eight days of January.
01:39When you look at 2025 up to January 8th, the country had recorded only six.
01:46And remember I stated earlier that we ended on a historic high as well in 2025.
01:53So if we have more than doubled what was in 2025, which was a high year, we have to ask ourselves what will happen at the end of 2026.
02:04So the numbers are alarming.
02:06Not a single body-worn camera was activated during any of the fatal shootings.
02:12One officer claimed he lacked a click to wear his camera.
02:16Police Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake urged officers to maintain high standards.
02:23Strengthening Jamaica means policing with integrity, fairness and courage.
02:28It means standing firm against criminality while remaining anchored in justice and respect for human rights and dignity.
02:36Ladies and gentlemen, the work we do today shapes the Jamaica for tomorrow.
02:41Commissioner Blake's call comes as Jamaica recorded 673 homicides in 2025, its lowest in 31 years.
02:50But the dramatic murder reduction has been overshadowed by unprecedented police killings.
02:57INDICOM's investigations continue with 49 officers charged with murder between January and September of 2025.
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