Dennie Quill, Contributor

I don't know about you, dear reader, but it is of little moment to me whether crime-fighting members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) are armed with M16s or MP5s. I don't care about the calibre of weapon an officer uses in carrying out his duty, what I care about is that the police deliver to the people of Jamaica what they have sworn to do, that is to serve and protect life and property. I expect the police to be responsive to complaints from the public, to treat citizens with dignity and to be efficient in carrying out their duties.

To do an effective job, they must be well-trained and equipped and be clothed in integrity. So Commissioner Hardley Lewin's announcement earlier this week that the JCF would be replacing the powerful M16 with the less lethal MP5 is really a house-keeping matter, instead it has been put into the public domain and, all and sundry now have an opinion on which is better, M16 or MP5.

Undisputed facts

There are enough undisputed facts in the public arena to confirm that the police tend to use excessive force and they usually defend their actions by saying they felt their lives were at risk. I don't believe the statistics will prove that the M16 has been the weapon of choice in controversial police shootings. I also do not believe that criminals necessarily target M16-toting policemen and attack them with the intention of stealing their weapons.

So what really is the benefit to be gained by this new move? Is the issue one of safety? Can we expect to see fewer questionable police shootings? Is it about the ability of the police to respond quickly and effectively? Is this merely a public relations gimmick by the commissioner to get applause from critics?

The public confidence in the police has taken a hammering over the last many years with the mounting murder rate and criminality and their impotence to find solutions. We have also seen more cases of the police being charged with corruption, fraud and violent offences. The solution to making our citizens feel safe has nothing to do with the type of weaponry the police may choose. The leadership of the JCF has to deal with the problem at the core - namely the explosion in the number of young men who can get their hands on guns and ammunition and who are not afraid to use them. Plain and simple, there are too many guns in the hands of criminals. There is an urgent need to staunch the flow of the weapons and put the masterminds behind bars.

Attitude and training

It is incredibly naïve to think that the police can handle criminals with kid gloves and it is even understandable that in policing these killing fields of Jamaica the police may make mistakes. And it is not so much the calibre of weapons, but the attitude and training of the persons who are using them. The JCF now needs to revisit its recruitment and training process.

The syllabus at the police training school ought to include tact and diplomacy to help the police assess difficult situations and use good judgement to defuse a potentially dangerous situation. By all means make the best decision about what weapons to be used and ensure that the officers get the requisite training in how to use deadly force in a safe yet effective manner.

I am all for equipping the police with the right technologies and know-how so that they can have the best available protection when they go on the beat. And there are many other options including pepper spray, taser, proper body armour that are worth exploring.

So get on with the job; Commissioner Lewin, it is not necessary to get media coverage for every new move. The most telling result is a decrease in criminal activity and a return to safer communities.