Cops out of training bullets – may have to give up guns
Officers unable to do compulsory annual shooting practice
Eastern Cape police have run out of handgun training ammunition, sparking fears that many will have to surrender their firearms.
The critical 9mm ammunition shortage across the province has led to police officers being unable to do compulsory annual shooting practice.
And part of the problem appears to be police members who repeatedly fail their practice shooting – and need additional ammo.
Weekend Post has learnt that police management issued an order for officials who had not completed – or had failed – their routine shooting to hand in their firearms, pending completion.
However, some commanders have apparently ignored the order, allowing members to still work with their firearms despite not passing or not going for their practice shoot.
The issue surfaced last week when several police officials from Port Elizabeth were turned away from Slagboom, the police training centre at Addo, because they ran out of 9mm ammunition.
Police officials at stations and units – including the Flying Squad – across the province were randomly contacted by Weekend Post. All confirmed they were aware of shooting sessions being cancelled due to lack of ammunition.While some officials managed to do their mandatory shoot earlier this year – before the critical stock shortage – several others have failed to do so.
The shortage also affects detective and operational officers.
Several said they were unable to do their shoot and were told to hand in their firearms.
Some officials said their commanders agreed to “turn a blind eye” pending a date for their scheduled practice.
“We will not work outside without firearms. We will be targeted by criminals,” one official said. “Some members have been given leeway by their commanders, who are ignoring the order, but it is illegal.”
Another police official said: “As policemen you need to be an example to firearm owners and comply with the law.”
Asked about the reason for the lack of ammunition, one senior officer said it was due to officials failing their practice shooting and having to continue trying – until deemed competent.
“When the person has failed and needs to go again, they need to be allocated more ammunition. The re-shoot could see several more rounds used and, if they still fail, they have to go back until they pass,” the official said. “Because of the mass failings, more ammunition is being used.”
Figures revealed by safety and liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana in a written response to the DA’s Bobby Stevenson in June, confirm a dire 9mm ammunition shortage for training.
In reply, Tikana said there were more than 14,400 police officials in the province, of whom 12,200 were operational. Of these, about 1,050 were not competent to possess or carry a firearm as of May 2018.
“The shooting ranges are not fully utilised at times due to the lack of 9mm ammunition for training purposes,” she said in her response.
Stevenson said the lack of ammunition could have an impact on police deployment and also civil claims. “Millions are already being wasted in civil claims against the police. More training is needed to reduce civil claims, not the other way around,” he said.
“The ripple effect is disastrous as police need their firearms to tackle crime. We need them to be at the top of their game, which means endless training.”
In December, it emerged the national police armoury was in dire need of 9mm ammunition.
However, since then, various other provinces have also been feeling the pinch.The ammunition shortage comes only a month after Police Minister Bheki Cele and national commissioner General Khehla Sitole launched a new crime-combating campaign which aims to see more boots on the ground.
Port Elizabeth attorney Braam Greyling, a former brigadier with the police legal affairs division, said while the issue was concerning, the Firearms Control Act did not stipulate that police members, by law, had to do annual shooting practice.
“In terms of the act, it does not say they have to do an annual shoot – however the police’s own internal policy makes it a regulation within the department,” he said. “The regulation is there for several reasons, mainly because it is a high-risk environment and the police member might have to shoot if needed.”
Greyling said the shortage of training ammunition would have no bearing on the operational supply of ammunition.
“When police members are issued a firearm, they are also given ammunition for their use in the course of their duties.
“However [the shortage] could lead to a deployment issue as some members who failed will not be allowed to carry firearms.”
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci referred questions to national spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, who failed to reply.
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