Milton Edwards and Mark Beckford, Gleaner Writers

Commissioner of Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin (centre), answers questions from journalists at a press conference yesterday at the Police Officers' Club on Hope Road, St Andrew. Looking on (from left) are Senior Superintendent of Police Granville Gause, head of the Bureau of Special Investigations, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Robinson who is in charge of the Firearms and Use of Force Task Group. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

AFTER MORE than 25 years, the popular M16 rifle used by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) will be taken off the streets and replaced by the smaller calibre MP5 semi-automatic rifle. The roll-out of these new weapons should take place within a month.

"The only police formation at the end of the exercise that will retain some M16s will be the Mobile Reserve. This (the removal of the M16) is an effort to reduce the possibility of collateral damage because of the high-powered nature of the M16," said Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin. He was speaking yesterday during a media briefing held at the Police Officers' Club at Hope Road, St Andrew.

The press conference came in the wake of the controversial shooting involving a member of the Island Special Constabulary Force last Thursday on the March Pen Road, Spanish Town, which resulted in the death of 11-month-old Broderick Wright.

The shooting sparked a demonstration resulting in a five-hour long roadblock and massive traffic delays.

The MP5, which is based off the German-made Heckler and Koch model, will be sourced from Pakistan and will be in the hands of members of the JCF within the next four weeks, according to Commissioner Lewin.

Undergoing training

Members of the JCF are currently undergoing training for use of the weapon and members of the Special Anti-Crime Task Force are already using them.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Paul Robinson, in charge of the Firearms and Use of Force Task Group, described the new rifle as being more accurate and says it is used in most police forces in western societies.

ACP Robinson also dismissed fears that the new weapon, which has a 9mm calibre, will be no match for the firepower of the criminals.

"Our plan is to train our members to a higher standard and to teach them to shoot more accurately and more discriminately and to hit the target."

Corporal Hartley Stewart, general secretary of the Jamaica Police Federation said the body welcomed the move because the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

"In a closely confined patrol vehicle, the MP5 is easier to manoeuvre and it allows you a certain type of liberty," he told The Gleaner.

Reclassification exercise

He, however, said that the change of weapons was being debated by different members of the force for some time, especially those on front-line duties.

The training and recertification of members of the JCF in the use of firearms also came to the fore at yesterday's press conference. The commissioner revealed that all members of the JCF would be retrained and classified in the use of weapons within the next year. This would be an annual exercise to ensure competence in the use of weapons.

In relation to last week's shooting, the commissioner expressed condolences to the family of the infant and said the incident should never have occurred.

"The action of the police officer in firing his weapon is a clear violation of paragraph 103 of the JCF Human Rights and Police Use of Force and Firearms Policy which states: "Firearms will not be discharged at a vehicle simply because it has failed to stop for a signal at a road check, or to immobilise the vehicle."

Probing infant shooting

Following the shooting, the policeman involved was suspended and the other members of the party have been taken off operational duty.

The Bureau of Special Investigations is conducting investigations, and has made a special appeal for the driver of the taxi which was being chased to report to the police.