CCTV systems are not new in Jamaica
Dear Editor,
The euphoria being expressed about the launch of a closed circuit television (CCTV) system in Jamaica, dubbed JamaicaEye, requires a dose of realism.
While the Ministry of National Security must be commended for staging such a powerful public relations event with the media giving the intended coverage, the simple fact is that CCTV systems have been around in Jamaica for over 10 years. While I speak from the vantage point of having been a consultant in the Ministry of National Security (2013-2016) where I had responsibility for the implementation of various CCTV projects, all assertions I make herein relate to information that was placed in the public domain.
The Mandeville system, which was the product of a public-private partnership between the Ministry of National Security and the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, was established in 2007/2008. The system in May Pen was established about the same time (both prior to my joining the Ministry of National Security). The Montego Bay system was launched, somewhat quietly, in 2013 by then Minister of National Security Peter Bunting. That system, which had over 20 cameras across the town of Montego Bay, was established at a cost of $55 million. The system in Ocho Rios was a major step-up on the Montego Bay system and was the product of partnership among the Ministry of National Security, The Port Authority of Jamaica, the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), and the business community in St Ann. At the time of the launch the system had over 30 cameras and was involved an investment of about $107 million.
A system was also established in Negril, again in partnership with the business community and the TEF. The amount invested there eludes me. Since 2014 the Ministry of National Security has been in dialogue, which were published in the media, concerning the expansion of the system in Mandeville and the establishment of a system in Christiana. Both the Mandeville expansion and the new system for Christiana were to be undertaken in partnership with the private sector. The design of these systems to incorporate private cameras, in order to give law enforcement more information, was also a matter that was publicly announced.
So the issue that faces law enforcement with respect to CCTV is not the absence of data collection modalities and methods but the use of the data collected. Investigative journalists need to inquire of the police concerning the usefulness of the data from the systems in all the locations I have mentioned, as well as seek to ascertain how these systems have aided in solving or preventing crime. The police should be urged to disclose its data analytics protocols using CCTV. Such disclosure will not compromise effective policing tactics, rather it will strengthen deterrence.
I have been critical of this Government for placing too much emphasis on PR and too little on results. The fanfare with which a resource that has been around for a decade has been launched is an example of PR trumping results. If the police were up to the game it should have provided data to the media showing the number of arrests that have been made based on CCTV data, as well as the number of convictions secured, also using CCTV data. The public should be in possession of baseline data on criminal activities, such as pickpocketing in Mandeville market — a prime pickpocketing location — and then comparative data showing trends in reported cases of pickpocketing before and after CCTV-related arrests or other interventions related to the use of CCTV data.
I urge the Ministry of National Security and new Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson to focus on results and use PR only to seek to improve results, rather than using PR to create hype.
Dr Canute Thompson
canutethompson1@gmail.com