Jamaican Police.Com

Amnesty International’s recent annual report has once again criticized the Jamaican police for what it described as the high rate of killings by members of the force in ’socially excluded’ inner-city communities. The report said the rate of police killings has fallen but is still high – 222 people were killed by the Jamaican police in 2008.

The report stated “.. many (police killings) occurred in circumstances that suggested that they were unlawful, despite frequent police claims that they were a result of shootouts with criminal gangs.” The case of 17 year old Carlton Grant (son of dancehall deejay Spragga Benz) who was shot dead by police on August 23, 2008 in Downtown Kingston, was cited specifically, along with the case of 13-year-old Jevaughn Robinson who was fatally shot in the head by the police on September 22, 2008 in Spanish Town, St. Catherine.

Also from the report … “There were high rates of murder and police killings in socially excluded inner-city communities. The government initiated some reforms to the police and justice system to tackle the security crisis. Discrimination and violence against women and people in same-sex relationships were widespread. At least one person was sentenced to death; there were no executions.”

The report did note however the Jamaican Government’s efforts to address police impunity and lack of accountability – specifically parliamentary discussions on a draft bill to create an independent commission to investigate abuses by the security forces.

Click here to see Amnesty International’s 2009 Annual report on Jamaica

Tags : Amnesty Inernational, Amnesty Inernational Report, carlton grant, Jevaughn Robinson, Police Killings, Police Shootings, spragga benz