00:00The police complains authorities renewing calls for greater oversight of police-involved shootings, including the use of body cameras and
00:08stronger collaboration with investigators.
00:10Speaking on the TV6's Morning Edition, PCA Director David West said the authority continues to monitor significant number of police
00:18shootings across the country.
00:20According to the PCA, there were 55 police shootings involving 68 victims in 2025.
00:27Between 2020 and 2025, more than 250 people were involved in police shooting incidents.
00:34So far this year, the authority has recorded 16 police shootings involving 20 victims.
00:41West said the figures underscore the importance of independent oversight and timely investigations.
00:47He also expressed concern that the PCA is often not immediately informed when police-involved shootings occur.
00:54When they have a police-involved shooting, we are not told about the shooting.
00:59By the time we know about it, the crime scene has already been dispersed.
01:04Whereas we should be there on the crime scene, not in the crime scene, but observing the crime scene.
01:12Okay, when the CSI officers come, so we can ask them questions.
01:16For example, how many shell casings did they recover?
01:20West said earlier notification would allow PCA investigators to better observe and document the evidence-gathering processes at shooting scenes.
01:30He also reiterated calls for wider use of body cameras, arguing that video evidence can provide a clearer account of
01:37incidents involving officers and members of the public.
01:40The PCA director noted that while the authority received cooperation regarding body camera footage during the tenure of former police
01:48commissioner Gary Griffith,
01:49it did not receive footage in police shooting investigations under former Commissioner Erla Haywood-Christopher,
01:55and has not yet received any during the tenure of current Commissioner Alistair Govero.
02:00West also renewed calls for legislative amendments to strengthen the powers of the Police Complaints Authority
02:06and enhance its ability to conduct independent investigations.
02:11Aksha Galston, TV6 News.
Comments