THE Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) appear to be closer to signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to guide their relationship, which has been tense, at best, since INDECOM was set up in 2010.

From November 2016, the authorities had indicated that the signing of the MOU was imminent, but that has not yet materialised. At the time, there were claims and counter-claims between INDECOM and the JCF about the causes for the delay in signing.“The major issue we have is with the commissioner of INDECOM. They can’t come to any agreement (regarding the MOU) that is going to bind INDECOM unless he (Williams) agrees to it,” former Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hines stated at a November meeting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee of Parliament.But Williams rebutted the charge arguing that “for some unknown reason” the then police commissioner had failed to sign off on the last document to finalise the MOU.National Security Minister Robert Montague said last Friday that the MOU was at an advanced stage and would be ready for signing shortly.Speaking at the Caribbean Use of Force in Law Enforcement Conference held at the Jamaica Conference Centre last Friday, Montague said: “I am happy that significant progress continues to be made because I am determined that the marriage between INDECOM and JCF must be formalised. I believe that INDECOM is the best friend of JCF and JCF, the best friend of INDECOM. Both agencies must display to Jamaica that they are mature institutions and can operate for the best interest of the public.”He also commended the working partnership between the JCF and INDECOM and the police’s compliance with INDECOM’s Use of Force Policy, noting the reduction of fatal shootings between 2013 and 2014 by 55 per cent.“A further reduction in 2015 resulted in a 60 per cent downturn when matched against 2013 figures. What we know is that for 2014, 19 persons from the security forces were charged with murder. In 2015, another five were charged. In 2016 that was reduced to four and since this year only three officers have been charged for murder,” he said.Montague further pointed out that for the July to September 2016 quarter, INDECOM completed 112 reports, 42 which needed no charges or disciplinary action. He also highlighted that INDECOM, in its quarterly report for October to December 2016, recorded the completion of 316 case files 203 or 66 per cent of which had no charges or disciplinary action applied. For the first quarter of 2017, 249 cases have been completed with 94 per cent having charges or disciplinary action applied.