National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds has defended the T&T Police Service’s height requirements for recruits, adding that visibility is an important aspect to policing.
Hinds made the remarks during a handover ceremony of TTPS and Defence Force vehicles at the Vehicle Management Company of T&T (VMCOTT) in Laventille yesterday.
On Thursday, High Court Judge Robin Mohammed ruled in favour of Renaldo Marajh, who sued the State after being excluded from recruitment for not meeting the minimum height requirement of 167 centimetres.
Marajh’s attorneys, led by Anand Ramlogan, SC, argued that the height requirement was unconstitutional and discriminated against candidates of certain ethnic groups and women.
Mohammed ruled that Marajh’s constitutional rights to equality were breached.
During his address, Hinds referred to the judgment, adding that it concerned him as minister, as he felt the height requirements were necessary. He said having officers of a certain height was necessary in situations where visibility was key.
“In my view as a citizen, from a common-sense perspective, you want when you post an officer in a crowd, he can be seen and not only seen by the person who is standing immediately next to him.”
Despite this, Hinds maintained the matter was not over yet, as there were plans to appeal the judgment.
Referring to the various changes to the law, he said some thought will be given to whether the legislation could be considered ‘saved law’ under Section Six of the Constitution.
“So there are some legal nuances that the lawyers will work out, but suffice it to say, for good reason the police service would have established these height and other restrictions.”
He added that the court matter was testament to the fact that crime-fighting may not always be a straightforward process.
“As we try to fix and bring about optimum efficiency in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, there is not always a smooth road. There are challenges.”
