Owen Ellington orders audit of police equipment

The police commissioner, Owen Ellington has ordered an immediate audit of all police equipment issued to persons who have left the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in the last five years.



The Commissioner gave the directive out of concern that police equipment issued to persons no longer with the JCF have been recovered in operations targeting members of the criminal underworld.



He says this situation is unacceptable as it seriously compromises the security of police personnel and members of the public.



The Commissioner’s comments come three days after three ballistic vests and a ballistic helmet were listed among the items seized in a major arms find in Green Pond, St James.



The Commissioner says that at the end of the audit, a full report should be submitted to the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Administration and should include steps being taken to retrieve items that have not been accounted for.



Commissioner Ellington has also announced new guidelines governing the use of vehicles in JCF’s fleet as part of an attempt to clamp down on the reckless driving by some members of the Force.



Ellington says he expects strict compliance with the new guidelines which were outlined in the latest Force Orders published this morning.



Under the new guidelines, the Commissioner has directed that every police personnel involved in a motor vehicle accident should immediately have his driving privilege suspended and be subjected to a breathalyser test within 24 hours.



The driver should also be served with a notice warning of possible prosecution and should not be returned to active driving until a thorough review is undertaken by the Inspectorate of the Constabulary.