Odle calls for body cam usage

The views expressed herein are solely those of the writer.

Body Cameras and the Call for Greater Transparency in Security and Policing

It is time for St. Vincent and the Grenadines to seriously consider the nationwide implementation of body cameras for all on-duty police officers and armed private security personnel with proper policy guiding its usage. 

In recent weeks, St Vincent and the Grenadines has experienced a series of incidents involving the use of force by both private security and police officers. In one incident, police officers were placed on leave pending an investigation into reported misconduct, as confirmed by the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force in a statement dated July 2, 2025, regarding “inappropriate actions” by officers under their command. More recently, a confrontation between a customer and a security guard inside a business placeresulted in a shooting. In another, a guard allegedly used lethal force in response to inappropriate behavior in a public area. 

These events raise important questions that the citizens of our country must ask, not just about training, use of force, and conflict de-escalation but about transparency. How do we, as a nation ensure, that when incidents occur, justice is not only done, but seen to be done? The answer to that is the use of body cameras.

Body cameras, when used properly, will offer a raw view of events as they happen between the citizens and police officers or private security guards and will protect against abuse, and false accusations for all parties involved. Unlike witness statements, which can be coordinated, body cam footage captures the events in real time so there is no time for guessing.

Body cameras are not just about monitoring, they’re about building a system the Vincentian public can believe inbecause the truth becomes harder to deny when there is untampered footage.

The more transparent systems we have St Vincet, the more trust we build between the public and both police officers and armed security personnel. That trust translates into greater cooperation from citizens, fewer confrontations, and a clearer path forward for our beautful country. 

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