National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang
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National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang
National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang has dismissed suggestions that members of the police force are indiscriminately shooting people during targeted operations.
While murders continue to decline, police fatal shootings have increased this year compared with 2024.
There have been 189 police fatal shootings since the start of this year, equalling the total number of such incidents recorded last year.
Dr. Chang, in defending the actions of the police, commended them for their professionalism and denounced any attempts to interfere with operational activities.
"The message that our police officers out there shooting down people willy nilly is wrong, it's a lie, and it must not be tolerated," he said, insisting that "nobody has the right to instruct the police in operation.... If they breach, they will be investigated, but nobody has the right to instruct them how to perform their operations."
Dr. Chang said it is up to the Police High Command, not the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), to decide whether body-worn cameras are deployed.
"INDECOM is an independent body; they have no right to tell the police how to police, and they don't have the skill set to do it. What they're supposed to do [is] investigate where there is a perceived error, and if the police interfere with their investigation, the police will be held accountable," the security minister reasoned.
Dr. Chang said the police are operating with improved intelligence and resources to identify and capture criminals. He argued that officers are "better trained, better equipped, and will take [criminals] out when they engage them".
He also warned that the police are aware of organised criminals who seek to recruit young men and engage them in criminality, noting that although many of these individuals "think they are smart and stay far away from the trigger... we are going to catch them. We'll get sustainability and a lower crime rate when we get rid of them out of the society."
He was speaking Wednesday at the official opening of the Stony Hill Police Station in St. Andrew.
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