Enquiry: No bullets report was ordered - Hinds

The former head of operations for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has revealed that he did not request a report about the number of bullets discharged by members of the JCF during the May 2010 police-military operations in the west Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens.

In addition, Deputy Commissioner Glenmore Hinds told the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry this morning that he was not aware of whether such a report was requested by any of the commanders below him.

His testimony came in response to a document compiled by the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) which showed that members of the JCF admitted, in witness statements to the commission, that they fired a total of 1,167 rounds of ammunition during the operation.

Testifying during cross-examination by lead attorney for the commission, Garth McBean, Hinds said the number of bullets fired by members of the JCF did not form part of the post-operation assessment conducted by the Force.

He said while it's an important indicator of the conduct of JCF personnel during the operation, the number of rounds fired should not be frightening.

Hinds, who headed the JCF's operations portfolio at the time, explained that the number of rounds fired could be part of the tactical maneuvering by police personnel to get troops into position to secure locations.