The entity will manage a special exception with the Military Forces and will organize an internal purchasing and training fair for its personnel
News Colombia.
He National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (Inpec) faces one of its most critical weeks of the year. In less than seven days, three of its officials have been murdered and two others attacked in different regions of the country, what the entity has described as a “systematic attack” against its personnel. The most recent case occurred in Cali, where the dragoneer Jimmy Flores Salazar He was shot when he was leaving his shift at the Villahermosa prison, the same center where a doctor linked to the institute was murdered days before.
Given the increase in attacks, Inpec announced new security measures that include the possibility of its guards carry weapons for personal use outside of penitentiary establishmentsa decision that seeks to provide greater protection to custody and surveillance officials, as well as administrative personnel exposed to similar risks.
An exception due to the nature of the risk
In an official statement, Inpec reported that it is taking steps before the General Command of the Military Forces so that the carrying permits granted to its personnel include a special exception that allows them to carry weapons outside of prisons.
The entity argues that prison work is high risk and that it is necessary to strengthen self-protection mechanisms, always under strict compliance with the control and regulation standards established by law.
This measure, explained Inpec, is part of an immediate response strategy to recent attacks and seeks to reduce the vulnerability of staff once their workday ends, at which time several have been attacked.
Procurement and training fair
To accompany this initiative, the institution announced the holding of a personal use weapons acquisition fairaimed at officials interested in obtaining them under legal parameters.
During the event they will offer preferential conditions for penitentiary servants, such as discounts and priority in the procedures for purchasing and dispatching weapons.
Likewise, there will be developed a extraordinary training campaign focused on the responsible use of weapons, respect for legal and ethical standards, and technical instruction in maintenance and safe handling. In the coming days, the entity will detail the requirements, dates and places where the process will take place.
Additional security measures
The announcement of the carrying of weapons does not come alone. Inpec also ordered the suspension of visits in penitentiary establishments Bogotá and Valle del Caucaa measure that could be extended to other departments according to security recommendations.
Likewise, it was ordered temporary suspension of transfers and referrals in Bogotá, Valle del Cauca and Cauca, except for those of a vital medical nature. Meanwhile, judicial proceedings will be carried out virtually.
These decisions were agreed upon after a meeting between senior government officials, representatives of the Military and Police Forcesand judicial authorities, who analyzed the hypotheses surrounding the recent attacks against prison officials in different areas of the country.
Between protection and controversy
Although the measure is considered necessary by the custody and surveillance body, it is not exempt from debate. Some experts warn that the carrying personal weapons outside the work environment It can generate legal and ethical tensions, in addition to requiring very rigorous controls to avoid unwanted incidents.
Inpec insists that the new actions are temporary and that their main objective is safeguard the lives of officialswho in many cases have been victims of threats from criminal networks linked to the prison system.
“This is a response proportional to the real risk that our officials face,” said the entity, which hopes to finalize the agreements with the Military Forces in the coming days.
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