HUGH B Faulkner has spent nearly three decades in service to the law, guided by a conviction that justice must reach beyond the courtroom. As he approaches his sixth year at the helm of the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) as commissioner, he steers an institution tasked with one of the country’s most delicate responsibilities: holding members of the security forces and State agents accountable while keeping public trust intact. It is a role that carries forward the convictions that have shaped him since his early days as a lawyer — that justice must be reachable, compassion must be present, and accountability must never bend to fear or favour.

“When I first started working in the field of law I was drawn to people who felt powerless,” Faulkner recalls. “I saw how justice could seem distant, how the system could seem intimidating and out of reach. That’s why I’ve always believed that the law has to meet people where they are. It has to serve ordinary Jamaicans, not just those who can afford it.”

He remembers the early days after being called to the Bar in 1996, when he worked at the Administrator General’s Department, gaining an early understanding of how the law operates in practice. He later moved to the Kingston Legal Aid Clinic where he met clients from all walks of life, many of whom had nowhere else to turn. The experience taught him that fairness and accessibility are as important as the law itself, and that the law only matters if it can reach the people it is meant to serve.

“In 2008 I took on the role of executive director at the Legal Aid Council, and it quickly became clear that justice cannot stay behind office walls,” Faulkner said. “We needed to meet people where they were.”

For the 12 years he led the Legal Aid Council, Faulkner took the law directly to the people. Three mobile justice units were acquired and Faulkner was the consulting attorney on many of the rostered community visits and town halls. “Everything we did was about making sure people knew their rights and could use them,” he explained. Hearing stories of frustration, fear, and exclusion from the justice system strengthened his conviction that the law cannot remain confined to office walls, a perspective that would later shape how he approaches his role as commissioner.

When he assumed leadership of Indecom in 2020 Faulkner moved quickly to strengthen its investigative systems and aimed to humanise its relationship with the public. In his first five years there has been significant institutional progress, with a new case management system to improve the monitoring and management of investigations as well as the overall data collection and analysis capabilities; acquisition of technologically advanced forensic equipment; appointment of family liaison officers to support complainants and witnesses; increased the staff capacity and capabilities; and the introduction of best-practice interview suites for vulnerable witnesses and children.

Faulkner also worked to build connections that could make a real difference for families. He helped forge critical partnerships through a referral programme so that families could be assisted with guidance on rehabilitation and burial grants, as well as support through the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH). Faulkner also strengthened the governance framework, setting up an internal audit unit and statutory committees to ensure financial accountability and transparency.

“Investigations should carry empathy as much as enforcement,” he explained.

Still, Faulkner notes that lasting improvements depend on stronger investigative, independent, accountability tools. In 2025 fatal shootings required the greatest strategic attention, with a notable 65 per cent increase. Indecom investigated over 300 fatal shooting incidents without video evidence. Such an absence makes the investigative process slower and more difficult to substantiate, even with conflicting reports. He envisions a future where police officers engaged in planned operational duties are all equipped with and using body-worn cameras. He noted that additional cameras placed islandwide will support stronger cases, faster investigations, and protect the credibility of law-compliant law enforcement officers. It is an important tool in independent, objective and impartial investigations.

As the commission continued to stay true to its slogan of “Searching for truth and striving for justice”, tangible results were seen between 2024 and 2025 when a total of 55 officers were charged following Indecom investigations. Faulkner is quick to credit the team behind the numbers.

“The increased number of officers charged must be credited to the operational staff, investigators, drivers, forensic examiners, legal officers and administrative staff. It takes all of us to carry a case from report to charge,” he shared.

He also credited the team for the work done to secure 33 rulings for charges in 2025, the highest-recorded annual rulings received from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions by Indecom.

Faulkner acknowledged the contributions of all former and present staff of Indecom who continue to fight for transparency and accountability.

“All staff members who have contributed to Indecom in the formative years did what seemed impossible at the start — creating the foundation on which we continue to build,” he said.

As he looks to the future he urges Jamaicans to see accountability not as punishment, but as protection — protection for citizens, for communities, and for the good law enforcement officers who serve with integrity.

“If we hold each other to account, we build a system strong enough for all citizens.”