A new enhanced agency based on an intelligence-led approach and methodology is due to come on stream.
So said Minister of National Security, Edmund Dillon yesterday at a joint media conference at the Ministry of National Security, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain.
He said the agency would incorporate some of the duties and responsibilities of some of the intelligence agencies, including the National Operations Centre (NOC), Security Intelligence Agency (SIA) and the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).
“It will be complementing the activities and the duties of the Police Service and the Defence Force.
“Based on the intelligence approach and methodology our operations are intelligence-driven which will enhance areas such as crime detection and the fight against terrorism and trans-national, organised crimes,” Dillon added.
He said there would be a review of certain kinds of adjustments, including institutional strengthening.
Dillon said within the last three months there had been a review of the architecture to determine what were the problems that confronted the nation...the issues and how those problems, issues and challenges could be resolved.
“In terms of analysing security problems, what are the policies and strategies to treat with those issues.
“We did examinations and we have realised that we would have to make amendments and adjustments as we go forward,” he said.
Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams, who also spoke, admitted that although the police have recorded ten per cent decrease in serious crimes, it still faced the challenge with murders.
Yesterday marked 400 murders compared to 398 recorded last year.
He said 83 per cent of those murders were committed with guns, but said the police were able to remove more than 655 illegal guns from off the streets which, he said, was the highest number in T&T’s history.
Chief of Defence Staff, Rodney Smart, assured continued support to the Police Service in the fight against crime.
“Recently, we had the passing out of 156 new recruits and they have since been absorbed into the TTDF and in particular, in the army service, and they are pressed right now in finishing training and will be brought on to assist during this yuletide period into Carnival,” Smart added.