Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has assured the public that the Government has no plans to restrict citizens from sharing video footage of police-involved incidents.
The clarification comes amid public debate following the fatal police shooting of Joshua Samaroo and a recent High Court ruling supporting the right to record police conduct. Previously, Alexander had expressed concern about placing such footage in the public domain, warning that it could interfere with investigations and shape public opinion based on limited clips.
Speaking to the media outside his constituency office last month, Alexander said, “The police also respect that there is an investigation taking place, and we must be cautious as to how we put things out in the public domain… You cannot put things out there, get public opinion on only what they saw for two minutes or a minute and a half, and then draw conclusions.”
Yesterday, in the Upper House, Alexander clarified that the Government will not legislate against public sharing of police footage.
“The answer is no. No. Underline the word no. It is not the Government’s intention to introduce legislation prohibiting, regulating or otherwise altering the public’s ability to release, share or publish footage of police-involved incidents,” he stated.
However, Alexander strongly urged that any such footage be shared with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) first, to assist with investigations.
“The Government remains committed to transparency, accountability and the rule of law. In this regard, it is strongly advised that any such footage be provided in the first instance to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to assist in the investigation and the conduct of the official inquiry. This ensures that evidence is properly secured, assessed and preserved in accordance with established legal and procedural standards,” he said.
Regarding CCTV footage, Alexander noted that police can obtain a warrant to access recordings from individuals unwilling to volunteer them.
“In accordance with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s policy on the use and review of private closed circuit television (CCTV) footage in investigations, information can be acquired in three main ways: voluntarily brought to the police, accessed with consent, or obtained via a warrant if there is reluctance or non-cooperation,” he explained.
He further outlined the procedure: “Where footage is provided voluntarily, statements are recorded to assist experts in extracting or recording the evidence. When consent is given, a form is signed to authorise access. In cases of refusal, investigators have authority to obtain a warrant to secure the necessary digital evidence. After extraction, the investigator assesses its relevance to the investigation and follows standard protocols to ensure integrity and admissibility in court. According to the Commissioner of Police, Mr president, this is the process.”
When asked whether the same approach applies to investigations into policing activity itself, Alexander confirmed, “Yes.”
