Green

WHAT HAPPENS to an illegal firearm that is taken off the streets by the police?

For years, several persons have raised allegations that police are often involved in the planting of guns or knives, referred to as 'sweeties' on individuals and at crime scenes. The practice of planting sweeties on innocent persons was raised in the confession of a corrupt cop in last Sunday's Gleaner.

While such allegations have never been proven, a source close to the constabulary has said that allegations of gun planting by the police have some degree of truth.

"Guns recovered are sometimes not handed in but are sometimes kept back for when they are needed," the source said.

Serious breaches

But Les Green, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), has said this should not happen and adds that "only serious breaches can result in a recovered gun ending up on the streets once more".

"There is a written procedure that governs the custody of firearms recovered by police and there is a procedure that governs their disposal and destruction," ACP Green told The Sunday Gleaner.

Inspector Steven Moodie of the firearm and coastal division of the JCF has emphasised that "no seized firearms are kept by the police for any use whatsoever, not even for museum purposes".

Police are often accused of planting guns at the several shooting scenes and concocting stories that often demonise the victims.

Planting 'sweeties'

Yvonne McCalla-Sobers, chairperson of human rights group Families Against State Terrorism, concedes it is difficult to prove that police are planting 'sweeties' but notes that from the many stories, it must be happening.

Meanwhile, Ms. McCalla-Sobers has said that the police still refuse to bag the hands of shooting victims even though this allows for ballistics experts to determine if they have gun power residue that would suggest they were firing a gun. "It is a critical piece of evidence which can point to the truth," she said.

Another measure proposed by Ms. McCalla-Sobers to stifle the possibility of a sweetie reaching a shooting scene is for proper logging of all firearms.

registers

"The registers are poorly kept and if the integrity of the police force is to be preserved, there must be proper documentation of weapons issued and taken on operation, including a policeman's licensed firearms," she said.

The Force Orders of the Jamaica Constabulary bars police from taking their personal firearms on operation, without special permission. In such event, the Force Orders stipulate that the firearms must be logged.

Data from the Bureau of Special Investigation for fatal shooting incidents reflected figures of 114 in 2004, 169 in 2005 and 90 at the end of June 2006. It is uncertain how many of these shooting cases are being disputed by victims and/or their relatives persons. What is, however, certain is that the police are recovering fewer firearms, as their recovery haul has decreased from 85 in 2005 to 41 as at the end of last month.

Steps that SHOULD be taken after recovering an illegal firearm

After recovering the firearm the police must ensure minimal handling to protect the integrity of DNA and fingerprint evidence.