Guns destroyed

 

Yesterday morning the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) conducted its first independent firearm destruction. These weapons were accumulated by the RBPF over a number of years and were handed in voluntarily, found, or were associated with cases that have already been adjudicated.

 

Acting Superintendent Neil Branch stated that the RBPF, in collaboration with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament and Development of Latin America and the Caribbean, made training in relation to weapons destruction available. Branch explained that this was done in the past with members from the UNRCPD being present and giving guidance; but now the Force is qualified to do it on its own.

 

The idea behind the destruction of the guns is to avoid having them available for further use in crime, as one of the things the UN has been focusing on is leakages from storage. As a result, they provided the equipment along with the training.

 

Branch also highlighted that there are a variety of weapons being found on the street. 

 

“When we go to shooting instances, we are finding a whole set of high powered ammunition, which is suggesting that the high calibre weapons are definitely on the rise,” he stated.

 

With reference to firearms being spotted at some events recently, Superintendent Branch stated that there is always a need to increase security. “Not only do we need to increase security, but there is the need for credible security. I want to say that we are in receipt of that information and we are dealing with it and any other related cases.” 

 

Also addressing the matter of event security was David Welch, Public Relations Officer of the RBPF. 

 

 

He added: “Not only do we want the police to engage, but we are also partnering with other law enforcement agencies and other private securities... We are encouraging wherever possible that promoters should buy-in to the concept of increased security and awareness… Do not be afraid to search patrons, do not be afraid to search hand bags of patrons because we know that women do assist in bringing these firearms into these fetes”.

 

This raised the concern of the rumoured “blood bath” that being shared to mar Foreday. “We are not taking it lightly…I will not say the steps that we are taking but we’ve looked at it and we will continue to look at it as seriously as possible…it may be so or it may not be so but we are going to treat it carefully and it will receive our full attention because safety is paramount and we would want persons to feel comfortable to come out and enjoy themselves in the activities,” said Superintendent Branch.