(Trinidad Express) Government has hired four private security companies to provide mobile security patrol services in residential districts on a 24-hour basis throughout Trinidad during the period April 6 to May 5, in the first instance.
The patrols being provided by the private security firms, have no additional powers outside of their normal powers as private security officers, performing private neighbourhood patrols.
These patrols are being instituted after consultation with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), and within all the parameters of the law.
In a statement, the Ministry if National Security said the decision was taken in order to support law enforcement officers by providing further patrols and manpower in predetermined areas.
The security firms are:
• Allied Security Limited
• Amalgamated Security Services Limited
• Innovative Security Technologies Limited
• Protective Agencies Limited
The Ministry said the security companies possess the experience, manpower, technical capacity and competence as well as required information, communications and technology infrastructure to rapidly deploy and sustain the physical presence needed for the duration of their engagement with the Ministry.
“This initiative is being employed in order to enhance the national security response and support recent measures instituted by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 virus.”
According to the Ministry, the patrols will be using marked vehicles and maintain realtime communications with the National Operations Fusion Centre (NOFC).
Members of the public were told that the current emergency circumstances presented by the Covid-19 pandemic are dynamic and thereby constantly evolving.
“ As such, the Ministry of National Security will continue to respond to threats to public safety and order by developing, modifying, escalating and/or de-escalating its response as required.”
The Ministry said this latest strategy represents one such measure and will effectively increase operational capacity of law enforcement agencies to more swiftly detect and respond to breaches of the law while promoting stricter compliance through public engagement.
“It is to be noted that this initiative will be monitored for quality and its operating parameters adjusted accordingly as necessary”.
