FOOTAGE from two body-worn cameras assisted the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) with its probe into the actions of the security forces in two incidents in recent months.

These two cases were the first time Indecom had been provided with footage captured by body-worn cameras from the security forces.

Indecom Commissioner Hugh Faulkner on Thursday told journalists at a media briefing that in 2022 the commission was made aware of footage from a body-worn camera in a case involving an assault incident. So far this year the entity has received camera footage from a non-fatal shooting incident.

“It goes without saying that we are desirous for those numbers — regarding the use of body-worn cameras — to be increased,” said Faulkner.

Indecom has long called for the use of body-worn cameras by members of the security forces, and Faulkner told the media briefing that he welcomed the news that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will be seeking to employ greater use of these devices.

“In fact, in dialogue with the commissioner of police [Major General Antony Anderson], we are anticipating a significant inflow of body-worn cameras to the JCF in the new financial year which commences April 1,” said Faulkner.

He argued that, internationally, the use of body-worn cameras by police forces enhances necessary transparency and accountability.

“As often stated by this commission, we are of the view that body-worn cameras would assist the expediency in investigations by Indecom and augurs well for public confidence, in addition to providing obvious lessons for learning in police-citizen interactions. Furthermore, body-worn cameras can absolve officers where complaints are made against them erroneously or falsely,” said the Indecom head.

Faulkner suggested that body-worn cameras should, in the first phase, be deployed by specialised operations teams to apprehend who are deemed as wanted men as well as to those officers deployed to high zones of public transport interactions.

“I have been advised that the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch of the JCF will be among the recipients of body-worn cameras,” added Faulkner.

In its fourth-quarter report, which was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, Indecom said that during 2022 the JCF accounted for the greatest number of fatal shooting incidents among Jamaica’s security forces — more than 120 of 134.

Indecom reported that it recorded 229 fatal and non-fatal shootings in 2022.

The report noted that the issue of the absence of a recovered firearm, or other weapon, continues to remain a troubling feature of both fatal and non-fatal shooting incidents, and charged that this can only contribute to the perception of excessive or disproportionate use of force when other tactics could be considered and deployed — particularly, where no firearm was reported as present.

“This issue creates community distrust in the police service and does little to lessen the significant concerns, frequently expressed, of excessive use of force being deployed against unarmed persons,” Indecom said.

The commission argued that the use of body-worn cameras across the force, “is an essential requirement and requires urgent implementation”. According to Indecom, the use of body-worn cameras can only enhance the evidence-gathering process across the spectrum of policing operations, allay public concerns of alleged abuses, ensure security for police officers, support traffic enforcement breaches, and change the policing landscape with regard to police civilian encounters and reported police shooting encounters.

In the meantime, deputy commissioner of police in charge of the crime Fitz Bailey told the Jamaica Observer that 400 body-worn cameras have already been deployed, and 220 should be in the island by the end of this financial year. He said another 1,200 have been ordered for next financial year.