Where do seized guns go?

THE EDITOR: Two years ago a man was held by the police and a gun was found in his car. The gun was unlicenced and quite correctly he was charged.  The case was called, but the police were not ready.  This went on over and over again for two years. The police were never ready and the magistrate threw out the case.  What has happened to the gun? Is it in the possession of the Police?  In cases such as these, there is the perception that the police deliberately frustrate the courts by not ever being ready to prosecute. Why?  So that they can keep the gun?  Sell it?

Perhaps the Police Service has a good system for keeping these weapons that they seize, but can we be sure?  Should the magistrate not insist that the seized gun be brought to court to satisfy us that the gun has not fallen into the wrong hands?  How many of these seized weapons are there for which no one can account? To deal with crime, we have to get hold of the guns that are out there. But the Commissioner of Police must know and assure us that the guns that are seized are securely held and not being passed into the hands of criminals. In light of all the talk of stopping crime, we need assurance as to the whereabouts of these weapons that are seized by the Police.

JASON HERNANDEZ
San Fernando