Police Told to Turn in Guns and Lead by Example

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Police officers in Samoa have been warned to turn in illegal firearms or risk arrest as the Samoa Police Service prepares to initiate another gun amnesty, the third since 2015, aimed at reducing illegal firearms.

Samoa Observer reports that Police Minister Tialavea Tionisio Hunt also called on members of the public to surrender unlicensed and illegal firearms.

“Police Officers should lead by example; their mandate is to enforce the law and they cannot be seen doing the total opposite,” he said.

“Looking back at the first amnesty in 2015 more than 300 weapons were turned in and three years later the second amnesty was little over 100. there is a big gap,’’ he added.

Tialavea said a recent raid in Faleula provides evidence that weapons are being passed around in the community and it is the Police’s job to keep the country safe.

The Commissioner of Police and Corrections, Fuiavaili’ili Egon Keil, said last month they allowed people to turn in firearms, ammunition, explosives and other unlawful weapons to police without questions being asked.

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