Postvcourier
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has put an immediate stop to the use of high-powered firearms by police on a daily basis.
Mr O’Neill said he prefers the use of firearms to be restricted to special circumstances only, such as when the police are called out by the government to perform national security and emergency operations.
That preference and other uses of high-powered arms will be regulated and administered under an enabling legislation and administrative guidelines.
“The use of these firearms has become regular and sometimes quite unnecessary.
“This has notably become a growing concern for the public and communities at large,” he said.
In a letter dated Tuesday February 5, Prime Minister O’Neill directed Police Minister Nixon Duban, to immediately order the return of all high-powered firearms to police armouries to be stored away securely.
“When securely stored at armouries, no high-powered firearm should be issued without proper authorization,” Mr O’Neill said.
The Prime Minister directed Minister Duban to review the use of the firearms policy as part of a holistic restructure of the Police Force.
“As for the normal day-to-day policing, side arms can be carried,
preferably by senior non-commissioned and commissioned officers.
“I know there will be concerns raised about the safety of police officers, particularly when high-powered arms are being used by criminals.
“In such situations, special exemptions can be granted by the police commissioner,” he said.
Mr O’Neill said both the Police Minister and the Attorney-General will work together to create an enabling administrative and legislative framework for the controlled use of high-powered firearms.
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has put an immediate stop to the use of high-powered firearms by police on a daily basis.
Mr O’Neill said he prefers the use of firearms to be restricted to special circumstances only, such as when the police are called out by the government to perform national security and emergency operations.
That preference and other uses of high-powered arms will be regulated and administered under an enabling legislation and administrative guidelines.
“The use of these firearms has become regular and sometimes quite unnecessary.
“This has notably become a growing concern for the public and communities at large,” he said.
In a letter dated Tuesday February 5, Prime Minister O’Neill directed Police Minister Nixon Duban, to immediately order the return of all high-powered firearms to police armouries to be stored away securely.
“When securely stored at armouries, no high-powered firearm should be issued without proper authorization,” Mr O’Neill said.
The Prime Minister directed Minister Duban to review the use of the firearms policy as part of a holistic restructure of the Police Force.
“As for the normal day-to-day policing, side arms can be carried,
preferably by senior non-commissioned and commissioned officers.
“I know there will be concerns raised about the safety of police officers, particularly when high-powered arms are being used by criminals.
“In such situations, special exemptions can be granted by the police commissioner,” he said.
Mr O’Neill said both the Police Minister and the Attorney-General will work together to create an enabling administrative and legislative framework for the controlled use of high-powered firearms.
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