During 2022, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) continued to account for the greatest number of fatal shooting incidents among Jamaica’s security forces, with officers being responsible for over 100 of the total of 134 fatalities for the period.
This is according to the Independent Commission of Investigations’ (INDECOM) fourth quarter report for 2022 which said that the number of fatalities is two more people than in 2021 and represents an increase of under one per cent over last year.
In fact, the report which was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, reveals that 2022 is the third consecutive year, since 2019, where police fatal shootings have increased.
According to the Commission, the JCF “was solely and directly involved in the fatal shooting of 120 people”, noting that of the number, 16 fatalities concerned off duty officers.
“Thus 104 fatal shootings occurred whilst members of the JCF were engaged in operational policing duties in 2022,” the report stated.
In terms of the other security forces, the INDECOM report revealed that the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) was directly involved in the fatal shooting of seven people, which equates to two less persons than in 2021 and five less than 2020. The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) was involved in two fatal shootings in 2022, both victims were unarmed, attempted escapees. One further escapee was shot and wounded.
Additionally, the report said the 134 fatalities are seven more people than were shot and killed in 2022 than in 2021. “This represents a slight six per cent increase over 2021. Of note is the 40 per cent increase in the number of non-fatal shooting incidents, which is the highest figure in the past five years,” the document outlined, revealing that 95 persons were shot and injured in 2022.
Overall, the report highlighted that there were 164 civilian deaths concerning the security forces – 134 by fatal shootings, 25 deaths in custody, three fatal road traffic collisions and two fatalities by other means – during the period January to December 2022.
For the 10-year period, 2013 to 2022, a total of 1,352 people were shot and killed by the security forces, the document further stated.
The Commission’s fourth quarter report for 2022, reviews the patterns and practices of shooting incidents for January to December 2022, with comparative analysis for previous years. Issues relating to members of the security forces involved in fatal and non-fatal shooting incidents, off duty shooting incidents, multiple fatality shooting incidents, no gun/no weapon shooting incidents and planned operations were also highlighted and assessed.
