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Fri Jun 15, 2007
Shipment of weapons for JCF put on hold
RJR News has learnt that a plan to replace the current cache of M16 assault rifles in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has encountered a major setback.
Well placed police sources disclosed Friday afternoon that a shipment of MP-5 sub-machine guns, which were to be issued to policemen and women assigned to some Police Divisions, has been put on hold.
According to a Detective Sergeant who requested anonymity, firearm trainers assigned to the Jamaica Police Academy at Twickenham Park, St. Catherine conducted a rigorous testing exercise with the MP-5 weapons.
Following the exercise the instructors reportedly advised senior officers that a significant fault had been discovered with the weapons.
It is understood that during the test, firearms instructors were unable to convert the weapon from rapid fire to single fire.
It is understood that the concerns surrounding the weapons have been brought to the attention of the Police High Command.
Efforts to get a comment from Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Administration and Support Services, Jevene Bent, were unsuccessful as she was not in office when our newsroom tried to make contact.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Firearms and Coastal Control, Paul Robinson refused to comment on the issue.
ACP Robinson referred us to the National Security Ministry, however Permanent Secretary Gil Scott was reportedly in a meeting.
An assistant to Mr. Scott requested that our newsroom again try the Police High Command.
The MP-5 is reportedly one of the most famous and widely used firearms of its class, developed since the Second World War and first referred to as the HK-54.
In 1966, German police and Border Guard adopted the HK-54 as the MP-5.
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