Forbes
POLICE COMMISSIONER Francis Forbes has launched a probe into reports that some members of the police force may have been involved in the sale of firearm licences.
"It is being investigated because it is stink on the streets," the Commis-sioner said last night. He said that he would be using a number of retired policemen to assist with investigations, which will also audit the number of firearm licences issued in recent years.
Mr. Forbes also confirmed that he had received a list from Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokesman on national security Derrick Smith with four names of persons said to be issued firearm licences by the police illegally.
Mr. Smith told The Gleaner that both himself and JLP deputy general secretary, Arthur Williams, met with the Commissioner on September 8 on the issue and had discussed with him the possibility of reviewing all firearms licences issued over the last two years.
Mr. Forbes said yesterday at least two of the cases raised by the JLP were being investigated. "From where I sit there are some angles (to the issuing of those licences) I would be dissatisfied with," he said. The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was looking at that matter and the Commissioner expects a report from them by this weekend.
He pointed out that sometime ago he had requested former Deputy Commissioner Leslie Harper to do an audit of police firearms, as well those which had come into the possession of the police in conducting their duties. He said that the next step was the audit of firearm licences which is being conducted, but he could not say how far back the audit would go.
