CONSTABLE Christopher Albert is now nursing a gunshot wound to his abdomen received from a colleague who was supposedly horsing around in the armoury.

He was injured through the reckless behaviour of another who aimed at him then fired. While most in the print media consider this an accident, respectfully I beg to differ.
First of all it is a violent breach of weapons training that you point your weapon at someone much more to pull the trigger not once but twice. However you put it, this is attempted murder pure and simple and should be treated that way. Standard operating procedures in weapon’s safety and use prohibits anyone to act in such a reckless manner.
Further to our discussion, this seems not to have been the user’s first encounter with firearms judging from the statement he made “I’s the badest man with .38.” This is thug language or what we would call street talk. This guy has been around and most certainly would have used illegal firearms before. In this regard, the beleaguered police would now be hurriedly doing a  background check of this guy which more than likely would reveal a troubled past. An unsavoury history awaits them for this “Hunte” guy only name given.

Here again we have the horrible reminder of a police force that needs reform at all levels. I must admit here again we are placed on heightened alert as to the glaring anomalies that exist within the force. The way recruits for the job are made strict background checks are mandatory. It reminds me of my youthful days when the main qualification for a job in the armed forces was height and built with overwhelming brute force and ignorance. This might have worked for that period that I always refer to as pre-1992. But post-1992 much more is required of the force, a more modern approach to its selection process as well as the professional way police carry out their day-to-day operations. It is high time for reform.