INDECOM charges 32 in past year
Cameras could have sped up probes that stretch back to a decade, says commissioner
Published:Wednesday | June 25, 2025 | 12:13 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
Since last year, the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has charged 32 members of the security forces for crimes committed over the past decade.
Commissioner Hugh Faulkner emphasised that the charges reflect the agency’s robust investigative capacity. However, he noted that several cases could have been resolved more efficiently if body-worn camera footage had been available.
“The investigative value of body-worn camera recordings cannot be overstated as they offer more accurate evidence that benefits everyone involved. INDECOM continues to urge law-enforcement officials to ensure that officers are equipped with body-worn cameras, especially in circumstances where there are planned operations,” Faulkner said.
INDECOM, which investigates actions by security personnel and other state agents, has consistently advocated for the widespread use of body-worn cameras to promote transparency, accountability, and public confidence in law enforcement.
So far in 2025, INDECOM has received 12 rulings for charges from the director of public prosecutions (DPP) involving alleged misconduct by security force members. These include cases of fatal shootings, assault, fatal injuries, and breaches of the INDECOM Act. Six officers from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have already been charged, with charges pending against five more and one officer from the Department of Correctional Services.
In 2024, the DPP issued 24 charge rulings, resulting in charges against 24 JCF officers, three correctional officers, and one member of the Jamaica Defence Force. Offences included fatal shootings, assault, malicious destruction of property, road deaths, and breaches of the INDECOM Act.
INDECOM’s second quarterly report for 2024 revealed that no body-worn cameras were activated in 252 police shooting incidents. Faulkner stressed the importance of such technology for both accountability and fairness.
“This technological tool supports fairness in aiding both prosecution and exoneration and can assist in improved timelines for case resolution,” Faulkner said.
He added: “Digital footage, like body-worn cameras, delivers an objective, unfiltered record of events that will help to deter misconduct, corroborate or challenge narratives, and ensure adherence to institutional training, policies, and procedures.”
Despite INDECOM’s calls, National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang dismissed the relevance of body-worn cameras during a November 2024 address, claiming that they offered “very little value” during active confrontations.
“You don’t need to be an expert to understand ... you put a camera on your chest, you start shooting at somebody, they start shooting at you, you going to dive for cover,” he said.
Chang, at the time, said that the “primary benefit” of body-worn cameras is the maintenance of public order such as its use in the apprehension of street vendors.
Human rights lobby group Jamaicans for Justice declared in February that the absence of this critical device “continues to undermine transparency, accountability, and public trust in law enforcement”.
In response, the JCF indicated that it had prioritised the development of infrastructure needed to support the widespread deployment of body-worn cameras.
“Over the past three years, several billion dollars have been invested in data-storage solutions, network capacity, and digital security systems to ensure that the cameras function reliably and the data they capture remains secure,” it said.
It noted that body-worn cameras generate substantial amounts of video footage, which must be securely stored and managed for extended periods, particularly when required for investigative and judicial purposes.
It stated that with a foundation now in place, it has moved on to expanding the number of cameras in use. It said that the JCF currently has 750 body-worn cameras in place and that additional cameras are in procurement to be deployed before the end of the year.