The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) recently released a revised version of its human rights and police use of force and firearms policy. Throughout this month, The Gleaner has been publishing excerpts of the document.

Station Accounting Procedure for Weapons and Ammunition

All weapons and ammunition will be issued and returned against signature. The following procedures will be adopted in relation to all issue and return of weapons and ammunition.

No member of the Force while on duty shall carry a weapon other than one which has been issued and/or authorised by the Force.

Firearms and ammunition are kept at all divisional headquarters and stations for issue in cases of necessity. They will only be issued to members of the Force who are currently qualified in that weapon.

The station officer and the sub-officer in charge of each station is responsible under the directions of the divisional officer for the safe custody and issue, when necessary of firearms and ammunition.

When a firearm is issued to a member it shall be loaded by him/her and in the case of a revolver or pistol, placed in the holster in the presence of the station officer or sub officer in charge of the station.

An entry will be made in the station diary noting to whom it is issued and the firearm register signed by the officer receiving the weapon and ammunition.

Magazines for self-loading weapons will be 'charged' in accordance with firearms training instructions for that weapon. Rounds will not normally be placed in the breach unless action is imminent.

On completion of the duty, the member will return the firearm to the station officer or sub officer in charge of the station and will account in his presence for all ammunition issued.

The latter will carefully examine both the weapon and ammunition and make an entry in the station diary of the condition in which they are returned to him. The relevant entry in the Firearm Register must be completed.

A member returning firearms must report any instance in which he/she has had occasion to draw it operationally from the holster, whether it was discharged during the period of duty. Such report will be dealt with as 'Urgent' and submitted to the divisional officer.

When a firearm has been discharged, other than in training, a report of the circumstances will be submitted by the member concerned to the sub-officer in charge of the station. All such reports will be marked 'Urgent'.