UNLIREC held its three-part Ballistic Intelligence Management Workshop for personnel from the Royal Barbados Police Force during June and July. Due to the COVID pandemic, the centre had to restructure its training to a virtual format.
The first activity, delivered from 15 to 26 of June, focused on the creation of a physical Open Case File for the Firearm Examiners. The creation, maintenance and searching of an OCF are powerful tools in the provision of both intelligence and evidence.
UNLIREC´s Technical advisor guided RBPF officials on how to document and populate the Physical OCF. Training content included, inter alia, OCF Search Protocols, Monitoring Forms, Documentation of Hit Reports for Dissemination. Physical crime scene ballistic exhibits from unsolved gun crimes were reviewed and subsequently placed in the OCF, according to relevant characteristics and marks. Three firearm examiners and one IBIS Technician participated in this first activity.
As part of its assistance to create and implement the OCF, UNLIREC procured the specialized evidence boxes and labels for Barbados in preparation for the Open Case File component of the Ballistic Intelligence Workshop.
Following the completion of the OCF workshop in June, UNLIREC advanced discussions around ballistic intelligence management and inter agency coordination. During 13-17 July, a number of bilateral meetings were held with personnel from various units within the RBPF, including, inter alia, the Senior Command Team, Special Branch, Firearm Examiners Section, Major Incident Room, Police Command Center, Major Crimes Unit, Drug Squad and Financial Crimes Investigation Unit.
The workshop culminated on 17 July with an online roundtable meeting on broader ballistic intelligence management issues. Some of the topics discussed include documenting and disseminating HIT reports, mapping and analysis of firearms and ammunition crime as well as inter-agency coordination. A total of 16 RBPF officials participated in the workshops.
UNLIREC, as the regional organ of the UN Office for Disarmament, seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its commitment to support Member States in their implementation of international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, in particular, the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms. This specialized training was made possible thanks to the support of the government of the United States of America.