THE Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has called on National Security Minister Peter Bunting and the Parliament to intervene and give oversight on the issue of collusion among officers in the security forces.

The call comes following what the Commission said were its less than successful efforts to get definite positions from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) on the matter.

The JDF in their response alluded to the fact that it was normal practice to tell its members not to collude when it comes to giving statements internally or externally.

The JCF, meanwhile, highlighted a difficulty in monitoring collusion but sought to evade the issue rather than acknowledge it. “This is an important matter of accountability for which the intervention of the minister and the oversight of Parliament is required,” INDECOM complained in its quarterly report tabled in Parliament last week.

The Commission has, in the meantime, called on Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington to respond to a number of issues which it said are still being ignored by the police.

According to INDECOM, the JCF has yet to address the “fact that there is widespread disobedience of the rule regarding the display of numbers.

“The security reason given for not wearing numbers on helmets is unclear, given that the current rule for wearing ID numbers is to facilitate the ease in the citizenry identifying police officers. It is not apparent how improving numeral visibility endangers security. The commissioner of police has been asked to clarify this issue but has failed to respond,” INDECOM said.

It said, too, that the commissioner of police has yet to respond to INDECOM’s queries regarding how many police officers have been disciplined for wearing masks or failing to display numerals in the last two years and the kind of punishment they received.

It, however, said the JDF has reported that it has had to discipline soldiers for wearing masks without permission.

INDECOM, in its report tabled in Parliament last August, had recommended that certain measures be implemented by the JCF and the JDF relating to the wearing of identification numbers and concealment gear or masks.

The commission had also recommended that the security forces implement measures to hinder their members from colluding before giving statements.

In the report last week INDECOM said “the JDF has partly complied, however, the JCF is determined that they will not abide by the recommendations given”.