Gang violence appeared to escalate in T&T this year following the death of a known gang leader– causing power struggles among gangs – an alliance between conventional street gangs and “hired” employees and a merger among gangs involved in white-collar crime.
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds gave this information in Parliament on Wednesday in replying to UNC MP Rodney Charles’ query on why, despite the Anti-Gang Act, the acting Police Commissioner stated in January 2022 that there appears to be an escalation in gang violence.
Hinds said according to information provided by the commissioner, the apparent escalation in gang violence is in part due to the following factors:
(A) The death of a known gang leader in the latter part of 2021, which had deep ramifications in the criminal underworld. Among other things, this killing caused a fragmentation in the gang leadership and prompted attempts by other gangs to assume the operations of the particular gang to which he belonged;
(B) An alliance between conventional street gangs and persons hired by them to carry out violent crimes on their behalf, including shooting, arson, extortion, kidnapping and murder;
(C) A merger among gangs involved in white-collar crimes, which include human trafficking, illegal quarrying and the illegal importation of firearms, ammunition and drugs into T&T.
Hinds said to fight this menace, the TTPS has developed several crime-fighting strategies to accelerate the manner of policing and ultimately dismantle criminal gangs.
These include:
* Curtailing access to guns and ammunition – TTPS’ Homicide Bureau is actively engaged in removing guns from the streets through targeted law enforcement activities and enforcement monitoring. This includes expanding detection efforts at legal ports, as well as examining the operations of security firms, licensed gun dealers, legal firearm users, shooting ranges and firearm trainers. The focus on legal/illegal guns is to prevent guns and ammunition from being accessed and used by criminals.
* Combating white-collar crime – TTPS’ Financial Investigative Bureau is proactively concentrating efforts on addressing financially motivated crime such as money laundering; unexplained wealth linked to illegal quarrying and the trade in guns and drugs.
* Redistribution of resources – Given that the Northern Division frequently records the highest crime rate, the TTPS implemented a new measure in January 2022 to treat with murders and violent crime – the division sub-divided into the Northern Division North and Northern Division Central. A senior superintendent leads each sub-division. This is expected to support a more targeted approach to crime and violence there, including gang violence.
* Deepening regional and international coordination efforts – The TTPS continues to work closely with regional and international partners to strengthen approaches to deal with gangs operating within the country’s borders. This includes sharing and receiving data on organised crime activities, particularly as it relates to stolen vessels, wanted persons, drug seizures, identity documents and forensic evidence.
Hinds added, “Most of the crimes that threaten us are not with origins in T&T, there is a severe and serious international element to this.”
* Continuing efforts to infiltrate communities – TTPS continues working together with communities to capture and/or deter those bent on distressing citizens. TTPS’ Community-Oriented Policing initiative and Police Youth Clubs are intended to increase community engagement efforts, thereby reducing likelihood of youths being wrongly influenced. Also, several specialised sections are now heavily involved in communities identified to be challenged with criminal and gang activities.
Hinds noted, “Four of the five prison escapees were recaptured with the help of citizens.”
He said enforcement will give life to laws and the TTPS has been using them since people have been arrested and charged under the Anti-Gang law for instance.
