There is growing concern that the Community Comfort Patrol Programme (CCP) could be on the chopping block as the Government tries to control costs in the face of significantly reduced revenue.
Since taking office, the Rowley Administration has not made any pronouncement on the fate of the programme which the PNM criticised while in opposition. However, sources in the Ministry of National Security said its future was being assessed and there was no guarantee it would be continued.
Several questions were sent to National Security Minister Major General (Ret) Edmund Dillon on the future of the CCP, but up to press time he had not responded.
Documents from the Ministry of National Security’s Office of Law Enforcement Policy (OLEP) show that since its establishment in June 2014 the CCP has, up to October 2015, conducted more than 30,000 patrols and dealt with 212 significant incidents.
OLEP pointed to correspondence from several community organisations and school principals thanking the CCP for their work.
“The intended and realised benefits of the CCP programme cannot be effectively measured in discrete terms. The experience of citizens coming into contact with, or simply observing the patrols passing by, or officers deliberately engaging residents, or diligently responding to ‘calls for service’, are the hallmarks of the programme’s effectiveness. In this regard the programme has been and continues to be an unqualified success,” the OLEP said in a report.
“The public has been generally supportive of the programme, evidence of this can be seen in the substantial number of requests for service which have been submitted to OLEP. It is to be noted that the CCP operational model requires that officers work closely with community members in an effort to proactively identify social issues that have the potential to develop into more serious problems. Accordingly, CCP has also been instrumental in effectively addressing a number of specific incidents involving school violence, medical emergencies and road traffic accidents.”
The OLEP said based on these observations the patrols conducted by CCP were achieving their stated objectives.
On February 20, 2014, the PP Cabinet approved the formation of the CCP. According to Cabinet Minute No. 525, providers of private security services were selected “based on recommendations from the Private Security Network Commission (PSNC).” Four private security companies were identified and recommended using sole selective tendering—Allied Security, Amalgamated Security Services Limited, Innovative Security Technologies Limited and Protective Agencies Limited.
In the pilot phase, patrols were conducted in four geographic sectors along the East-West Corridor. Following implementation of the programme and based on feedback from the public, Cabinet authorised expansion of the programme nationally for one year from October 16, 2014.
During the pilot and expanded programmes more than 23,000 patrols were conducted with 127 significant incidents being recorded.
CCP mobile patrols are dispatched and co-ordinated by the National Operations Centre.
The PSNC is responsible for monitoring the programme and ensuring compliance with standards set by the commission, as well as ensuring that companies participating in the programme are accredited by the Ministry of National Security.
The OLEP on behalf of the PSNC is responsible for overall administration of the programme, including training, officer accreditation and development of standard operating procedures.
A cabinet note obtained by the Sunday Guardian showed that the aim of the programme was to reduce the fear and perception of crime by citizens and increase law enforcement visibility in specified residential communities. It is also intended to provide support to the T&T Police Service and provide comfort to citizens.
As of October, just under $65 million had been spent on the programme. Fees paid to the security companies engaged by the Ministry of National Security include capital and recurrent costs associated with staffing, leasing of vehicles, and establishment of command centres, expansion of existing GPS and wireless communications systems, training and related administrative overheads.
The OLEP said the concept of using private security firms to help in policing was not new and was consistent with emerging international trends.