INDECOM boss vows to stay ‘relentless’ on body cameras

The head of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has renewed a call for the compulsory use of body-worn cameras by members of the security forces during police operations.

Speaking on Friday night during a meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town in St Catherine, INDECOM Commissioner Hugh Faulkner underscored the critical role that body-worn cameras play in ensuring justice, transparency, and accountability in law enforcement.

“The team is on a relentless campaign, in the interest of justice, transparency and accountability, that the security forces are equipped with body-worn cameras,” Faulkner declared.

The INDECOM boss outlined what he considered troubling statistics concerning police-related fatalities under investigation by the commission. According to Faulkner, in 2023 the agency investigated 155 fatalities, followed by 189 in 2024. Between January 1 and July 1 of this year alone, 186 such incidents were investigated, with no body-worn camera footage available to aid any of the probes.

CAMERAS ESSENTIAL

In 2023, there were seven reported cases where police personnel were issued with body-worn cameras during operations. However, despite two fatalities and two injuries occurring in those instances, the lawmen involved claimed they had not turned on the devices.

“We are saying that in any modern-day law enforcement outfit, body-worn cameras must be an essential and inescapable tool for officers,” Faulkner insisted.

“Body-worn cameras provide a reliable account of what transpired. They can give the full account of what transpired at the beginning, during an incident, and what happened at the end; very reliable,” he asserted.

The commissioner argued that the footage captured can be invaluable in determining not only what occurred during an incident, but also in identifying whether a law enforcement officer acted within or outside the law.

“In many cases, how an incident commences is important in determining whether there is culpability or whether there is exoneration,” Faulkner explained.

“What happened in the incident can also help the tribunal of fact to determine guilt or innocence. Additionally, where persons are injured, it can tell whether those who were injured were given immediate and urgent response to get medical attention,” he said, adding that body-worn cameras carry immense value.

DETERRENT IMPACT

Faulkner also highlighted the deterrent impact that cameras can have on both police personnel and civilians during tense interactions.

“It is commonly accepted that the presence of digital footage and body-worn cameras can itself be a restraining force for an officer who is showing tendencies of departing from force orders, and the public who sometimes approach the officers without due regard, respect, and are aggressive,” he stated.

“So, both sides can benefit from the intervention of the body-worn camera. We have indicated to the security forces that body-worn cameras should be a priority in planned police operations,” he revealed.

Faulkner noted that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, complaints to INDECOM have surged to approximately 1,000 annually. He attributed this rise to the increased number of police personnel in the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

To address the growing workload, he said INDECOM is engaged in discussions with the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service to increase the commission’s personnel to a level that matches the growth in the police force.

Reaffirming the organisation’s core values, Faulkner stressed “the independence, objectivity and impartial nature of INDECOM”, while also commending the professionalism of his team.

In a move to enhance its engagement with affected families, Faulkner said INDECOM has introduced family liaison officers to provide support, empathy, and guidance to the relatives of those involved in police encounters.

“Regardless what antecedent the police give to someone who is held, we are mindful that in our investigation we have to interact with mothers, children and family members, and we cannot transfer the antecedent to these persons,” he declared.

The call from Faulkner comes amid increasing scrutiny over police conduct, particularly as fatal encounters with law enforcement continue to spark national debate.

editorial@gleanerjm.com