There is an increasing number of people "liming to the max" and then speeding along the nation's roads to reach home mere minutes before the curfew comes into effect. Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson has promised to "deal" with such people according to the "full brunt of the law." He made the statement at the daily press briefing at Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. "We have noticed since the curfew was put in place that every night people seem to be 'liming to the max.' "People will tend to lime until five to 11 or quarter to 11 and in some instances these people either go to a police station and seek a one night pass and some are inebriated with good stuff," Richardson said.
He said as a result the police had been faced with an avalanche of complaints of reckless driving.
He added: "We will be looking specifically for those persons who would be liming very late close to curfew hours and then go into a police station to get a one-night pass and then speeding to go home before the curfew. "All such persons will feel the full brunt of the law," Richardson said. Asked whether the police were determined to go after the "big fish" instead of continuously targeting the "small fry" as perceived by the public, Richardson said: "Everybody was being looked at. "Everybody as far as we are concerned are big fish, swimming in a small pond so everybody is being looked at and all efforts will be made to take out the fish where the fish is causing a disturbance to society," Richardson said.
Questioned whether there was consideration to place certain parts of central Trinidad under curfew as a result of recent homicides and robberies Richardson said that decision was still under review. "I cannot make any pronouncement regarding that. It has to be discussed at the level of National Security Ministry," he added. Regarding claims made by members of the public of excessive use of force used by the police, ASP Joanne Archie said the Police Service was guided by a use of force policy. "The use of force policy guides the officer from a position from mere presence to lethal force. However, there is a continuum on which the officer is guided to use force," Archie said. She said once there was any breach the officer would be subjected to disciplinary action.