The T&T Police Service has started to push back on home invasions, nabbing culprits immediately—and the detection rate is improving, says National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds.
“... And I’m happy about that,” Hinds added in the Senate yesterday in response to UNC Senator Wade Mark’s queries.
Mark asked, following a number of murders which occurred during January 27-30, 2023, bringing the overall number of murders in 2023 to over 60 then, what new measures were being taken by the TTPS to address this.
Hinds said the TTPS had implemented various proactive strategies aimed at assisting with the deterrence and suppression of criminal violations, including murder.
He noted the TTPS’ recently implemented 15-point Violent Crime Reduction Plan, based on precision, intelligence, prevention, proactivity and prosecution. It’s focused on all criminal activities throughout T&T, with particular attention to “hot spot” areas with high incidents of violent crime.
On how many gangs have been dismantled via the plan, Hinds said the Anti-Gang law being used isn’t as robust as it ought to be, since Government didn’t get UNC support to amend alongside it, the bail restriction law.
He said the TTPS had indicated there’s a revolving door with people coming before courts, getting bail and returning to commit more crimes. He said without those laws, the police are a little less effective.
But he said the TTPS has Anti-Gang units in its 10 divisions.
“And yes—they’ve been making progress along these 15 objectives, and been arresting and charging people, including in very recent times under the Anti-Gang law.”
On the detection rate against violent offenders following the TTPS’ plan, Hinds gave an example using home invasions.
He said, “The police have been quite successful in dealing with them. They’re reporting that intelligence-driven activities have led them to people involved.
“Senator (Mark) must have noticed that in at least the last six or seven events of home invasions, the police on every single occasion have been able to intercept them coming away from the scene of the crime, engaging them; in some cases it led to firefights and unfortunately persons died.
“But in every single case, the police have been able to make progress and we’ve noticed that, like they did with kidnappings over 2000-2007, they’re beginning to push back on home invasions.”
On murders, Hinds said the ministry has been focused on the TTPS’ Homicide Bureau—improving ballistic, DNA and pathology techniques, and the Bureau is now reporting they’re making greater progress in solving murders and increasing their detection rates. He said they also have a Cold Case Unit and some of the murder charges in 2023 concern offences as far back as 2006.
Hinds said much money and time is being spent on investigative training for officers.
“We know citizens are at a point where they don’t want to say anything they may have seen, therefore, we’re relying more than anything else on the science—and yes the detection rate is improving,”
Hinds also said the ministry purchased three jet skis for the Lifeguard Services Unit in April 2021, one of which was deployed for use at Maracas Beach and Tyrico Bay, to increase lifeguard patrols. The jet skis are currently used by lifeguards for patrols along both beaches, particularly at Tyrico on weekends and holidays. He said the Tyrico Bay lifeguard post is in the process of being upgraded and the ministry will be engaging in a beach safety awareness programme later in 2023.