From 18 to 22 November, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, carried out a series of Operational Forensic Ballistics activities to strengthen capacities to combat illicit trafficking in firearms and ammunition.
The activities held in Antigua and Barbuda included an assessment on the state of Forensic Ballistics capacity, an Executive Seminar for Senior Officials from agencies that are institutional clients of forensic ballistics and a 3-day Operational Forensic Ballistics (OFB) Workshop for operational participants.
National Assessment and Capacity Building
The national assessment carried out in cooperation with the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) and Antigua and Barbuda Forensic Services (ABFS), examined the state of forensic ballistics resources in the country. Key areas of focus included adequate equipment, ballistic investigation protocols, evidence management, as well as the continuing professional development of laboratory and RPFAB personnel. Based on the findings, a 12 – 18-month capacity-building work plan will be developed to strengthen operational forensic ballistics capabilities for both RPFAB and ABFS personnel.
Executive Seminar to Raise Awareness among Institutional Representatives
The Executive Seminar, held on 20 November, brought together high-level officials from various sectors. Participants included the Commissioner of Police, Chief of Defence, heads of investigative and crime scene units, prosecutors, custom officers, foreign service officers, permanent secretaries among others.
The seminar focused on the strengths and shortcomings of forensic ballistics in building court cases and generating intelligence to identify sources and routes used for illicit arms trafficking. UNLIREC staff also provided a review of best practices in forensic ballistics analysis and investigative techniques.
Operational Forensic Ballistics Workshop
From November 20 to 22 November a OFB Workshop was conducted for 19 officials including five women, from the RPFAB, ABFS, Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy, Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, Immigration Department and Customs and Excise Division. During the workshop participants discussed fundamentals of forensic ballistics investigations, standard operating procedures for forensic firearms facilities, and safety at scenes and withing a laboratory.
The Operational Forensic Ballistics capacity building efforts contributes to the implementation of Goal 3 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap which seeks to “Bolster law enforcement capacity to combat illicit firearms and ammunition trafficking and their illicit possession and misuse, and ammunition, and ultimately reducing firearms-related crimes and armed violence in the Caribbean.”
UNLIREC is one of three Regional Centre’s of the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs and seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its commitment to support Member States.
This activity was made possible with funding from the Government of Canada and contributes to the implementation of international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, in particular, the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.