Government's new National Crime Prevention Plan (NCCP) will involve communities conveying information on crime to local government councils and the Tobago House of Assembly with further assistance from an inter-ministerial team, says National Security Minister Edmund Dillon.
"We gonna see a difference, we're gonna pull it back," Dillon declared of "game changers" for 2018 to deal with crime.
"There are weapons of war out there and we have to deal with criminality. We all have a role to play," he said.
Citing the NCCP as a "game changer" he said this will empower communities to link with the 14 corporations and THA in treating with crime issues. The inter-ministerial team will handle issues which corporation crime councils won't be able to address.
Out of 4,000 applications for municipal police, he said 130 were short-listed.
The ministerial team comprises National Security, the Office of the Prime Minister, Health, Education, Sports, Public Utilities and Works. This will provide solutions for communities that could halt potential crime.
A 24-month operational plan by his Ministry is being finalised for Cabinet. Other strategic plans (2018- 2023) are also being done by the police, Defence Force, Security Services Agency, Prisons and other agencies.
Dillon said the new police Organised Crime and Intelligence Unit focusing on certain targets will also "make a difference." As will the new US traveller identification system and automated fingerprint format linked with Interpol.
Priority 2018 legislation includes regulating private security firms, child rehabilitation centres, new prison rules and the implementation of the electronic monitoring of offenders via ankle bracelets.
Anti-terrorism training was done by security forces. Police have started using drone technology and a Canadian team has been training prison officers how to deal with prison riots. The Golden Grove video court conferencing facility is 75 per cent completed, he said.