Jamaica Police Ordered to Stop Demanding Cell Phone Passwords. The Minister of Jamaica’s National Security, Dr. Horace Chang, and the Commissioner of Police, Dr. Kevin Blake, have given an order to the police. They must end the practice of confiscating citizens’ cell phones. This means the police can no longer demand that citizens reveal their passwords during random stops. The Minister said the practice is illegal.
The announcement came after the Jamaica police received mounting backlash. Citizens rebuked them for roughing up a 12-year-old boy. The boy refused to reveal the password for his phone.
During a post-cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, Chang said, “It is wrong.” He cited the lottery scam as a reason for the police’s heavy-handed tactics.
In the same vein, Commissioner Blake spoke forcefully. He said the practice was not right. More importantly, it was illegal.
Blake stated that the Police High Command is aware of the illegal practice. They have issued a cease and desist order.
Commissioner Blake disclosed that the police have a process for obtaining cellphone passwords. This includes getting an order from the court.
A victim of unprofessional and illegal behavior by the police wrote a letter to the editor of The Jamaica Gleaner.
In the letter, the victim described an incident during which he decided to video-record a group of police officers. He believed they were behaving unprofessionally while on duty.
He stated that one of the officers checked his identification card. Then, the officer ordered him into the back of the police vehicle. They claimed he “resembled a suspect in a robbery.”
The man reported that the police officers took him to the station. They demanded the password to his cellphone. Then, they deleted the videos he had recorded of their actions.