Coming just after the fatal shooting of a mentally ill man in Westmoreland early February, a caution from INDECOM boss Hugh Faulkner, who says steps must be taken to subdue or disarm using non-lethal methods. Echoing that call is, Executive Director for Jamaicans for Justice Mikel Jackson. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is being advised against using deadly force against persons with mental illness.
The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) reports that since the start of the year there have been four incidents, three resulting in fatalities. Commissioner Hugh Faulkner is insisting that there are proven methods in place that can be used against armed and unarmed persons.
Justice Mikel Jackson is urging the government to act on the recommendations of the 2015 Joint Select Committee of parliament report to give INDECOM arrest and prosecutorial powers.
