Jamaican News

Jamaica Police Federation Barks At Watchdog INDECOM.

May 26, 2021 | Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie |

Following the much publicize shooting to death of two alleged gangsters who it is alleged shot a businessman and relieved victim of his firearm news has emerged that the Police Watching The Independent Commission On Investigations (INDECOM) has been publicly barked at and chastized by the powerful police body JPF who is supposed to respect and work with INDECOM in upholding the law of probity in the police force. That is the Jamaica Police Federation backing without balance their members, the rank and file police officers in the force.

Legal

INDECOM was set up in 2010 by an act of Parliament to be the legally constituted body to be an independent commission of the government to stem misconduct and monitor the police in homicides and use of force in particular.  The right to life has to be a real concern as this is a human rights issue.

Major General Anthony Anderson

Extra-juducial Killings

Prior to the establishment of INDECOM the police internally monitored itself solely through a unit known as the Bureau Of Special Investigations (BSI).  Public confidence waned in this body and the Government decided after much outcry to set up a body which would in particular be external of the JCF and hopefully be seen as independent. In short a watchdog body which would hopefully have teeth.

 1) To enforce the use of force policy

2) Respect for the life of Citizens

3) To improve human rights concern

4) Police misconduct in dealing with the public in particular. In some instances internally. (Inside the force).

It should be noted that the Inspectorate Branch which replaced the BSI still exists and in many cases dual investigations are done in police operations. This seems to be an international best practice. All allegeded misconduct by police may trigger internal discipline which INDECOM was not set up to do. For example the violation of stated force order regulations.

Funding For INDECOM

Initially it is reported that INDECOM was funded by partner Law Enforcement bodies like the Americans, British, (Scotland Yard),  Canadians (RCMP), and Diaspora Groups. They have long expressed discomfort in the high rate of police shootings in Jamaica. The local authorities or the government also allocate funds to INDECOM.

Investment

Who would want to invest in any country where the official law enforcement officers were seen as state sponsored terrorists?  That is untenable going forward. Jamaica needs these investments and also associated remittances.

Reduction in Police Killings

There has been a marked reduction in Police shootings and killings since the establishment of INDECOM in 2010. For instance an approximate fifty percent (50) decline was recorded in 2010 to 2019.  This was not a smooth road for INDECOM. Court battles were fought as the Jamaica Police Federation challenged many lawful decisions of INDECOM. The Jamaica Police Federation lost many such cases. These court actions have delayed many police shooting cases.

Powers of Arrest

INDECOM has been handcuffed by a loophole in the statute which brought INDECOM into legal authority.  INDECOM as a body corporate cannot arrest Officers found to be in breach. The Privy Council has so ruled.

Police Abuses Up?

The most recent police killings known as the Trafalgar Road affair has been the latest round of controversy. INDECOM’s Assistant Commissioner Campbell, is claiming/allegding wrongdoing. As the matter is under investigation no further comment will be made here, for obvious reasons. Fairplay demands nothing less. The Jamaica Police Federation has balked at INDECOM, claiming bias by public comments on their investigations. Is this a fair view?

JCF Strength

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) founded in 1867 has a total compliment of 14,000 members.  Members above a certain rank (aka gazetted rank) are not represented by the Jamaica Police Federation (JPF).

Commentary

We hope the law will be amended to give INDECOM more powers. Already we have seen a rise in reports of alleged police abuses. For instance:  Ten citizens have been shot and killed in Police Operations, in about on month so far in 2021(April-May 2021).We await quarterly report of INDECOM due ending of June 2021.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is a veteran journalist who has a keen interest in decency and probity in public life. INDECOM can provide this role.

Photo from Twitter

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