INDECOM yet to receive any body-worn camera video from JCF

DESPITE THE acquisition of at least 400 body-worn cameras by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) says it is yet to receive video from the devices up to June 14, this year.

At a press conference on Thursday, INDECOM disclosed that 53 people had been killed in incidents involving the police since the start of the year.

Assistant Commissioner of the oversight body, Hamish Campbell, said in none of the incidents up to Wednesday had body-worn cameras been produced as evidence.

He reported that there was one shooting incident where a person was injured and the police officer had on a body-worn camera. However, Hamish said it was later discovered that the officer had not turned the camera on.

Campbell said that CCTV evidence continues to play a significant part in the investigations done by INDECOM.

“Once body-worn cameras are issued, the officer must put them on. If they are defective, it must be reported,” Campbell said.

Commissioner of INDECOM Hugh Faulkner said that for the January to March quarter this year, the police oversight body recorded 240 new incidents across all parishes.

“Out of these incidents there were 313 complaints or allegations, 32 per cent of the 240 new incidents touched and concerned allegations of assault by the security forces,” Faulkner added.

For the comparative period last year, the commission recorded 259 new incidents.

During the first quarter of this year, 30 civilians died from security-force-related incidents investigated by INDECOM.

Of the 30 who died, 28 were fatally shot arising from 26 incidents, and two died in custody.

INDECOM reported that two persons who were shot had mental-health issues and both persons were reportedly armed with machetes.

Faulkner said that of the 200 cases that were concluded with a commission’s report, 172, or 86 per cent, were determined as insufficient evidence to support a charge or disciplinary proceeding.

He said that INDECOM recommended for the quarter that a further 25 cases involving 45 officers face disciplinary action while three cases involving three officers were recommended for charges.

INDECOM shares its recommendations for disciplinary action against officers with the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau.

“From our calculations, approximately 86 per cent of the instances they are in agreement with INDECOM that disciplinary processes ought to be proceeded with,” he said.

However, Faulkner said that the data available to INDECOM does not provide comfort to the agency regarding the processes.

He said that INDECOM had been advised that the recommendations had been sent to the administrative branch of the force.

“Within the past few years I have seen one matter which was part heard. We have not been advised as to the conclusion of that matter, so we are saying the process seems to be lengthy and inconclusive,” said Faulkner.

He said that INDECOM had no other recourse than to make a report to Parliament about the issue.

During the period under review, INDECOM said it also received six rulings from the Director of Public Prosecutions of which four were for charges to be laid while in the other two cases, no charge should be instituted against the concerned officers.

In total, INDECOM has 66 cases pending before the court.