Kingston, Jamaica (McKoy’s News) – The Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) says the surge in deaths during planned police operations is tied to the growing deployment of Area Fugitive Apprehension Teams (AFATs).
In a report tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Indecom noted that since 2022, AFATs have been involved in a rising share of operations and fatalities. Between January and July 2025, AFATs accounted for 51 per cent of all planned operations and nearly half of all related deaths.
The commission highlighted a dramatic increase in fatalities over the last few years, from 11 deaths in 2021 to 76 in 2024, representing a 591 per cent rise. It also raised concerns over command leadership, the handling of recovered firearms, and the need for modern forensic practices during operations.
AFATs, a specialised police unit, operate across divisions targeting violent criminals, often collaborating with other units and the Jamaica Defence Force. Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake said the teams were necessary to capture criminals who operate beyond divisional boundaries.
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