Hunt on for cops
Published:Tuesday | July 12, 2011 | 12:00 AM
- FLA seeking current, former police personnel for gun-licence review
Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator
At least 300 former and current members of the police force are now being sought by the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) after failing to renew their private firearm licences for several years.
Heading the list is a retired senior police officer, who has been asked to account for his two private licensed firearms.
"Yes, we have a list of police personnel who we have identified. They have not been renewing their firearm licences. We have since contacted the Police High Command to assist us in locating these persons," said FLA chairman, Errol Strong.
Responding to a series of questions posed by The Gleaner yesterday, Strong explained that the FLA was in the process of establishing the whereabouts of the weapons, and whether some of these persons were still serving members of the police force.
"The contact information we have at the FLA for these people is outdated. Because police personnel move around, in terms of transfers, we are hoping that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) headquarters can help us locate them," said Strong.
He further explained that these licences were granted under the old system, prior to the FLA coming into being. Strong, a former assistant police commissioner who retired in 2005, stressed that under the law, firearm holders are requested to inform the FLA of their new contact information.
Under the Firearms Act, all licensed firearm holders are required to renew their licences, certificates, or permits annually. The FLA further requires that all firearms be taken in for inspection as part of the renewal process.
"These police personnel have not been taking in the firearms for inspection," said Strong.
Contacted yesterday, head of the Inspectorate Division, Deputy Commissioner Delworth Heath, said the matter had been brought to the JCF's attention.
"We have taken steps to address the matter and I don't know what progress the FLA has had since," Heath told The Gleaner yesterday.
While not condoning the breach, Heath said some of his colleagues were of the view that because they were not carrying around their private, licensed firearms, which they have had in safe keeping, they were not required to renew their licences or permits annually.