Now that former Police Service Commissioner Nizam Mohammed has explained the boundaries of the National Security Minister's powers over police officers, perhaps he might feel moved to offer suggestions on how the problems of morale and corruption among officers might be addressed. Mr Mohammed identified a lack of morale as a key element in the problems that the Police Service faces and lamented the Government's "mob reaction" to the problem.
According to Mr Mohammed, the power to transfer, discipline and fire any police officer lies with the Commissioner of Police, but it's unclear whether anyone holding that role over the last decade has felt either secure enough in their tenure or empowered enough by the political directorate to be able to undertake any serious review of performance and capacity within the Police Service.
In January 2013, Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams faced heat from his senior officers who disputed the process used to promote officers within the service. The situation quickly escalated into a legal challenge of a clumsily implemented change in the promotions process that took most of the year to sort out. It wouldn't be until Christmas Eve last month that a final round of promotions seemed to address the matter.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/digital/new-members