The Scope and Implications of a Tracing Mechanism for Small Arms ...

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channels, with the protection of encryption codes, and controlled by
individual User Names and Passwords.
Whilst IWETS will be primarily a law enforcement tool, other agencies
are exploring its benefits in the context of arms control for tracing illicit small
arms and prosecuting and disrupting the traffickers. Therefore, provided
law enforcement and/or criminal justice criteria are met, Interpol and
IWETS would provide the ideal model for future tracing activities involving
illicitly trafficked military small arms and light weapons. IWETS has the
added attraction of being an off-the-shelf product supported by the Interpol
network linked to law enforcement agencies worldwide, so there is no need
for the UN to replicate the system for its peacekeeping forces. Instead,
protocols need to be agreed between the UN and Interpol to enable access
via local law enforcement agencies.
3.1.8 Record-Keeping
Record-keeping for military small arms and light weapons varies
enormously between State authorities worldwide. Currently, the lowest
level involves manual paper-based systems. Computerization has to
become the international minimum standard. Tracing the history of
particular small arms through several markets becomes prohibitive if each
stage of the search relies on a manual trawl through paper records. Hence,
manual systems need to be rapidly upgraded to computerized databases in
order to expedite tracing requests, as well as adding benefit to stock control
and security measures. Consideration needs to be given to the degree of
back record conversion needed to facilitate tracing enquiries for which 32
years would be an appropriate period for military weapons.
Record-keeping systems need to build in a fast track mechanism for
tracing requests to support the imperative of early intervention and prevent
the continuing threat to life posed by traffickers.
The US, UK, Australia, South Africa and Canada, amongst many others,
have sophisticated military-owned computer databases providing a
centralized national record of each individual weapon in use and the
regiment to which it has been allocated plus the quantity and calibre of
ammunition supplied. These are kept separate from the civilian licensing
and registration systems and access to records by law enforcement agencies
is restricted on a case-by-case basis to trace specific weapons. The