Law enforcement is targetting known offenders — the less than two per cent of people who conduct illegal activities in T&T—whose lives will be made “miserable” and “untenable,” says National Security Minister Edmund Dillon.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, Dillon said that element would not be allowed to live normal lives in the current anti-crime thrust where reinforcement of police and army presence was being done following six murders over last weekend.
Dillon said Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley held an emergency National Security Council meeting last Sunday and another meeting with law enforcement heads was held yesterday to discuss the current crime situation.
“We intend to see a change in the way we do business... we’ll see a reduction in some areas, it won’t happen overnight but give it some time,” he said.
Noting the national security landscape encumbered by murders, illegal guns, ammunition, drugs and human trafficking, Dillon reiterated the four-pronged approach— increasing prediction, deterrence, detection and prosecution.
He stressed agencies must be able to predict what would happen and intelligence-based capacity would be strengthened among all entities, including T&T’s overseas offices.
A heightened security forces presence would be particularly high in the Northern Division but would also be done in some areas which were not being publicised, he added. He also urged police to treat with guns a “particular way” since those carrying weapons were bent on confrontation.
A note will be taken to Cabinet soon on the community aspect—a crime prevention programme for communities.
Dillon said joint patrols would continue in Enterprise, Chaguanas, following the murder of Selwyn “Robocop” Alexis and there have been “no incidents as yet.”
Acting Police Commissioner, DCP Harold Phillips, who said police were not proud of the murder rate, acknowledged it was cause for concern.
He said a pilot programme, involving body cameras for police, was being done in central Trinidad to aid in accountability as well as in the anti-crime thrust. Phillips declined response on whether he would apply for the commissioner’s post.