(Trinidad Guardian) As the daily diet of gang and civilian shootings and murders continues to channel fear and apprehension among the population, the T&T Police Service (TTPS) is moving to increase its visibility by immediately recalling all officers from vacation leave, restricting leave for the time being and adjusting the duty roster, which will see officers working longer hours, as they move to strengthen security grids in high crime zones in five divisions.
Acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob yesterday said they were concerned with the upsurge in violent crimes in the past weeks—the majority of which he attributed to gang rivalry.
Determined to best the criminal elements, he announced that effective immediately, 60 officers will be recalled from vacation to assist in policing open public spaces, as foot and mobile patrols are to be increased.
The additional manpower is expected to immediately boost the operational capabilities of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF); Guard & Emergency Branch (GEB) and general task forces in each division.
Speaking at a briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, Jacob said, “As the situation escalated within the last few days, we have now restricted leave for all police officers and we have doubled up the manner in which officers are working in five police divisions.”
These include the Western Division; Port-of-Spain Division; North Eastern Division; Central Division and Southern Division.
“In most places, we have officers who will work from 8 am to 6 pm, and then from 6 pm to 8 am, so that is two days and then they get two days off. They will now be required to work 24/48. The task forces that worked 24/48 are now required to work 24/24,” he said.
Jacob said the new arrangements were specifically designed, “to get additional boots on the ground.”
Saying 364 murders had been recorded since the year began, Jacob said, “We recognise a new trend that in order to carry out the high level of reprisal from one gang to the other, they started to target each other in what we call neutral spaces throughout T&T.”
These neutral spaces include places such as nightclubs and sporting venues, he said.
The CoP called on the public to comply with officers during increased activities, which will include roadblocks and other policing activities.
He thanked the T&T Defence Force (TTDF) for partnering with the TTPS for joint patrols.
Jacob said 87 per cent of the killings for the year so far was a result of gun violence. Having seized 408 firearms for the year so far and charged over 1,000 persons for gun-related offences, Jacob said it was worrying that almost 61 high-powered weapons were seized in 2021, compared to 60 for this year so far. Out of 21 shootings with high-powered rifles, 55 persons were killed and another 18 wounded.
