The Ministry of National Security

What The Ministry of National Security does

The Ministry of National Security is the Government of Jamaica ministry responsible for national security policy, law enforcement oversight, and crime prevention across the island. It coordinates an integrated security apparatus that includes the Jamaica Constabulary Force (police), Jamaica Defence Force (Army, Air Wing, Coast Guard), Department of Correctional Services, Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), Institute for Forensic Science and Legal Medicine (IFSLM), Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA), Firearm Licensing Authority, Private Security Regulation Authority, Caribbean Regional Drug Law Enforcement Training Centre (REDTRAC), Jamaica Combined Cadet Force (JCCF), Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP), and the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP). Operational services span law enforcement, border and maritime security, corrections and rehabilitation, immigration and citizenship, anti-corruption, anti-trafficking, forensic science, and youth crime prevention through case management and social intervention.

Technology-enabled programmes include the JamaicaEye National CCTV System, which ingests feeds from 200 government cameras and an expected 300 private cameras through public-private partnerships and applies video analytics to monitor public spaces; PICA's online and drop-box passport application channels with DHL courier delivery; and the inter-agency ISSS case-management platform supporting over 1,500 students across more than 50 schools since March 2020. Infrastructure investment includes Project ROC for police station renovation and US$92.8 million in border security capital (helicopters, ships, surveillance aircraft).

The Ministry is funded entirely through Jamaica's national budget and does not charge citizens for core security services; pricing is therefore not applicable. Development partners (IDB, DFID, USAID, Global Affairs Canada) provide supplementary funding for specific programmes, while private-sector partners (DHL, Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, corporate sponsors) provide logistics and event support. Headcount is 10,000+ across agencies, headquartered at North Tower, 2 Oxford Road, Kingston 5.

Name

The Ministry of National Security

Legal name

The Ministry of National Security

Website

https://mns.gov.jm

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Ministry of National Security is the Government of Jamaica ministry that oversees national security policy and coordinates law enforcement, military, corrections, immigration, and crime prevention programmes serving all Jamaican citizens through a network of statutory agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Security & Law Enforcement

NAICS

Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Police Protection (92212), Correctional Institutions (922140), National Security (928110), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Border Security & Homeland Security (BPAIAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Public Safety & Emergency Management (Police, Fire, EMS Oversight) (BPAIABAG), Security Systems Monitoring & Dispatch (SOC/Remote Guarding) (IMAIAEAF), Security Sector Governance & Police Reform (BPADAGAI), Cyber-Physical Security & Integrated Security Management (PSIM, SOC) (EDAEACAM)

Keywords

• National security services
• Law enforcement
• Crime prevention programmes
• Border security operations
• Correctional services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston

HQ country

Jamaica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Ministry of National Security is a government ministry of Jamaica that deploys best practices to prevent crimes and external threats, maintaining national security, law and order, and border integrity. It oversees and coordinates multiple security and law enforcement agencies including the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Passport Immigration & Citizenship Agency (PICA), and specialised units, delivering services such as law enforcement, border security, corrections, immigration, forensic science, anti-corruption, anti-trafficking, and youth crime prevention through social intervention.

Product overview

The Ministry of National Security operates as a government ministry overseeing multiple law enforcement, corrections, and security agencies rather than a single product. The portfolio includes core agencies (Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica Defence Force, Department of Correctional Services), specialized units (MOCA, PCOA, IFSLM, PSRA, REDTRAC), and programmes (JamaicaEye CCTV surveillance system, Project ROC infrastructure, We Transform youth empowerment, NATFATIP anti-trafficking, and PICA passport services). The agencies operate independently while sharing ministerial oversight, with initiatives like JamaicaEye representing technology-enabled security solutions and the We Transform programme addressing crime prevention through social intervention.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• JamaicaEye National CCTV System A national closed-circuit television surveillance system that allows citizens and businesses with CCTV cameras to voluntarily register and provide video feeds to vetted security professionals at monitoring centres for crime prevention, public safety, and incident response. Uses video analytics to monitor public spaces islandwide.
• Project ROC (Rebuild, Overhaul and Construct) A major infrastructure programme to rebuild, renovate and retrofit over 200 police facilities islandwide, converting stations into modern, citizen-friendly workspaces for the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
• We Transform Programme A youth empowerment initiative that provides rehabilitation and reintegration support for youth offenders in juvenile remand centres, including educational and vocational training through partnerships with programmes like HOPE for at-risk youth aged 18-24.
• PICA Passport Services Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency services including drop box renewal, DHL courier delivery, and online application systems for Jamaican citizens, providing passport, immigration, and citizenship documentation.
• NATFATIP (National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons) A coordinated national response to trafficking in persons, focusing on prevention, suppression, prosecution of offenders, and protection of victims through multi-agency collaboration involving multiple ministries, security forces, and NGO community members.
• Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA) An independent oversight authority established to monitor, inspect and audit the Jamaica Constabulary Force, providing civilian oversight and accountability of the national police force.
• Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) The national police force of Jamaica responsible for maintaining law and order, preventing and detecting crime, protecting life and property, and enforcing criminal laws through the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB) and other divisions.
• Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) The military force of Jamaica comprising Army, Air Wing and Coast Guard, responsible for external defence, counter-narcotics operations, search and rescue, and support to civil authorities.
• Department of Correctional Services (DCS) Government department managing seven adult correctional centres, one adult remand centre, four juvenile centres, and seventeen community service offices, focused on offender rehabilitation and reintegration.
• Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) Elite agency combining anti-corruption and organized crime functions to tackle corruption in the public sector and bring high-value criminal targets to justice.
• Institute of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine (IFSLM) Independent investigative institute merging forensic laboratory services and legal medicine (pathology) under the Ministry, conducting forensic examinations on physical evidence submitted by police and other agencies.
• Caribbean Regional Drug Law Enforcement Training Centre (REDTRAC) Regional training hub serving 18 English-speaking Caribbean countries, providing law enforcement training courses in drug control, border control, and financial control.
• Private Security Regulation Authority (PSRA) Statutory body regulating the private security industry, licensing contract security organizations, proprietary security organizations, private security guards, investigators, and trainers.
• Jamaica Combined Cadet Force (JCCF) Military-style youth organization providing training in leadership, life skills, aeronautics, marine skills, drill, map reading, first aid and music to secondary school students.
• Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) Statutory body responsible for firearm licensing regulation in Jamaica under the Firearms Act 2022, providing firearm user licences and related permits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22.2% reduction in murders (1,587 to 1,234) from 2017 to 2018
• +6 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Multiple Government Ministries and Agencies (NATFATIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNATFATIP encompasses personnel from multiple state agencies including Ministries of National Security, Justice, Labour and Social Security, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Health, Tourism, Education, Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, along with Child Protection and Family Services Agency, Social Development Commission, Office of the Children's Advocate, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Attorney General's Chambers, JDF, JCF, CISOCA, and NGO community members. The core emphases are prevention and suppression of Trafficking in Persons, prosecution of offenders, and protection of victims.
• HOPE Programme (Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership under the 'We Transform' youth empowerment Initiative to provide jobs for at-risk youth and support rehabilitation and reintegration of youth offenders. The HOPE Programme provides educational and job opportunities for young people aged 18-24 who are not employed or enrolled in training.
• National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCDA facilitates sessions for youth in juvenile correctional centres as part of the 'We Transform' empowerment programme.
• e-Learning Jamaica Ltd.secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided tablets donated to over 80 case-managed students under the ISSS, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Youth.
• DHL Jamaica LimitedsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for passport renewal fee collection and delivery of new passports throughout Jamaica, enhancing customer convenience.
• Jeffrey 'Agent Sasco' CampbellsecondaryOthers'We Transform' ambassador and mentor who awarded champion students with $25,000 each for educational development.
• Multiple Corporate SponsorsminorOthersCorporate partners supporting 'We Transform' Sports Day including Hi-Pro Ace Supercentre, Famfun Entertainment, Spike Industries, Kris and Charles Limited, Continental Baking Company, Massy Distribution Jamaica, Stewart's Automotive Group, Cari-Med Limited, and Nestle Jamaica.
• Private Camera OwnerssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitizens and business owners with CCTV systems can voluntarily register and provide camera feeds to JamaicaEye monitoring centres, creating public-private partnership for crime monitoring.
• Ministry of Education and YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Inter-Ministerial School Support Strategy (ISSS) providing case management services to students in Zones of Special Operations and vulnerable communities.
• Technical Advisory Team of the Citizen Security PlansecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported development of new risk assessment instrument for children 7-12 years old in partnership with Dr. Nancy Guerra from University of California, Irvine.
• Montego Bay Chamber of CommercesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate stakeholder consulted during JamaicaEye CCTV system development and implementation planning.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Public Affairs (Barbados): Barbados' interior ministry covering national security, immigration, and corrections. Regional peer operating in a comparable small-island Commonwealth context with similar administrative scale constraints, providing a useful benchmark for programme design.

Others

• INTERPOL: International police coordination organisation enabling cross-border law-enforcement cooperation, intelligence-sharing, and operational support. Adjacent peer reflecting the international coordination layer that MOCA and JCF interface with to address trafficking and firearms flows.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security: The U.S. federal department unifying border security, immigration enforcement, disaster management, and counter-terrorism. Broad incumbent peer offering a comparable 'consolidated homeland security portfolio' model that Jamaica's 13+ agency structure aspires to in scale and coordination.
• Public Safety Canada: Canadian federal department overseeing national security, emergency management, corrections, and policing policy. Broad incumbent peer given comparable federal structure coordinating police, border, and corrections functions across multiple agencies.
• UK Home Office: The United Kingdom's interior ministry responsible for policing, border security, immigration, and counter-terrorism policy. Broad incumbent peer given functional overlap (police oversight, border and immigration enforcement) and a comparable multi-agency coordination model that Jamaica's structure mirrors.

Direct peers

• CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS): Caribbean regional agency coordinating cross-border crime and security policy across CARICOM member states, including intelligence-sharing, border management, and firearms tracing. Direct peer operating at the supranational level that REDTRAC (a Ministry agency) feeds into and supports.
• Ministry of National Security (The Bahamas): The Bahamas' equivalent ministry with the same name and overlapping mandate covering police, defense, immigration, and corrections. Direct peer given identical functional scope in a neighbouring Caribbean Commonwealth state with comparable crime and border-security challenges.
• Ministry of Homeland Security (Trinidad and Tobago): Trinidad and Tobago's ministry with jurisdiction over national security, law enforcement, immigration, and civil defence. Direct peer operating in a neighbouring Caribbean jurisdiction with similar gang-violence, trafficking, and border-security pressures.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/mnsjamaica/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/mnsjamaica
• Xx.com/mnsgovjm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Ministry of National Security