Trinidad and Tobago Police Service

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service or TTPS is the law enforcement agency of Trinidad and Tobago. It has been in operation for over 200 years.

History

In 1592 the Spaniards founded the first European settlement, Trinidad's capital town San Jose de Oruna (St Joseph). The Office of the Cabildo or Town Council controlled the Police Force. Duties were restricted to within town. The strength of the Police Force never exceeded six between 1592 and 1792.

After slavery was abolished in 1838, and over 22,000 men and women enjoyed their full civil rights, the responsibility of the police increased and a ‘rural system of police’ had to be established. By the end of 1842 there were twelve police stations and approximately one hundred officers comprising inspectors, sergeants and constables.

In the mid 19th century members of the Metropolitan Police were brought to Trinidad on secondment, thus the Police Force had a very mixed composition as far as racial strains were concerned. During this period the Police Headquarters was housed at the corner of Abercromby and Hart Streets.

The only weapon the policeman carried was his truncheon which was four feet long. Then violence would be met with violence, and here a local tradition of the police "beating first and arresting after" was given birth. The general pattern of law enforcement in the 1840s was, once arrested the police took the accused to the station or if he was recalcitrant, held him and sent to call the sergeant. All police stations were Courthouses as Magistrates travelled from one Police Station to another. This was until 1844 when trial by jury and the English statutes were introduced into Trinidad.

In 1851 the police was appointed the country's first postmen and mail carriers and the police stations were transformed into Post Offices. The Mounted Branch was established for this purpose. In 1860 the Police Force was relieved of some of these extracurricular duties.

In 1869 an ordinance was initiated for better organisation and discipline of the Police Force. With a more organised Police Force, greater police surveillance of residents was provided.

The Police Headquarters at the corner of St. Vincent and Sackville Streets was completed in 1876 housing approximately four hundred and fifty–two (452) men. Over the years the strength increased and other units were established, such as Traffic Branch in 1930 and Special Branch.

By 1955 the need for policewomen to deal with juveniles and female offenders had long been overdue. Under Ordinance No. 6 of 195, twelve members of the fairer sex were drafted into the Force.

Now the institution was responsible to the people of Trinidad and Tobago for their deeds and misdeeds. Thereafter a Commission of Enquiry was appointed by the government to probe the administration and discipline of the Police Service. In 1966 the then Governor General assented to the Police Service Act, which enacted the Police Service Regulation 1965. This Act divided the Service into two divisions - the first and second divisions. It also introduced a change from Police Force to Police Service. This change was not only in name but also in operation. The focus shifted from being a militaristic force to a service-oriented organization. The Police Service subsequently established a mission and vision statement:

By the 1970s the Police Service had grown in strength to 3,399 members and was placed under the portfolio of the Ministry of National Security. Mr. Francis Eustace Bernard was the first local to be appointed Commissioner of Police in 1973.

In 1881 the Police Headquarters was destroyed by fire which was caused by the kerosene oil lighting system. The Police Headquarters was destroyed for a second time in 1990, this time during the attempted coup. A new Police Administration Building was constructed at the corner of Edward and Sackville Streets the following year housing Administrative offices.

During the past two decades the strength of the service has grown to 6436 officers with several new specialist Units being introduced. ^[1]

Units

Anti-Kidnapping Squad

The squad was recently established due to the numerous amount of kidnappings as a result of drugs and other serious crimes. The officers were carefully selected and trained to carry out this function effectively. They are placed in locations throughout the country.

Community Policing Secretariat

The Community Policing secretariat is a community effort between law enforcement and the community, which identifies problems of concerns to communities and work toward finding solutions to those problems. It is the community police officers and the community working together to help solve mutually defined problems through a deliberate effort aimed at reducing crime, violence, fear, insecurity and community decay. Its roles in the community are as follows; Lecture schools, (elementary, secondary, vocational) Parent Teacher's Association, Youth Groups, Neighborhood Watch Groups and Public and Private Sector Organizations on Crime Prevention with matters incidental to the Domestic Violence Act, Display Booths-Career Guidance, Youth Club Counseling, mediating, Annual Church Service Military Funeral, Town Meetings, Sport and Culture . Any social function in which the unit has an integral role to play

Court and Process Branch

One of the older instituted specialized sections of the Police service whose duties include: The prosecution of court matters at the preliminary enquiry and Magistrate's Courts throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Prosecutors attend training courses facilitated by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutors, Private Attorneys and Former Prosecutors.

Crime and Problem Analysis Branch

CAPA is the acronym for Crime and Problem Analysis Branch. It is the cornerstone in the transition to intelligence-led policing currently in process within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. CAPA was officially established in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service in May 2007. The Branch is a data processing unit that analyses information from crime reports and other sources to better inform the crime deterrence, disruption and detection efforts of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.

Criminal Investigation Department

Perhaps the first accepted example of specialization within the Service was the introduction of plain-clothes officers in 1862 to assist in fighting crime during that era. It proved and continues to prove its effectiveness. This section now provides a wide range of services including Fingerprinting, Photography, Robbery, Homicide, stolen Vehicles and Interpol.

Criminal Records Office

Providing a large range of fingerprinting services for the Service. Expert staff process prints for all persons charged or convicted for criminal offences. Persons admitted and or discharged from state prisons, dead persons and all applications for writs and bail. Their presence is also noticeable at crime searches and stolen vehicles. Their expert evidence is also essential in criminal cases. They also process prints for certificates of character, Police and Estate Supplemental Police.

Finance Branch

The Police Finance Branch serves as the Police Service's financial comptroller. It is charged with the responsibility for the financial administration of the Police Service, that is the control and the administration of the various financial allocations to the Police departments. It provides a range of services, which includes preparation, and processing of payrolls, pensions and gratuities, collection and deposit of revenue, purchase and issue of uniforms and other store items. They also serve as the managers of the Police Canteen.

Fraud Squad

The Fraud Squad is the section within the service, which is responsible for the investigation of all reports of major fraud occurring in the private sector and in government departments. They also deal with matters arising out of the manufacture and tender of forged currency notes highly prevalent during the Christmas and Carnival seasons

Guard and Emergency Branch

The Guard and Emergency Branch was established to deal with strikes, riots, demonstrations and the suppression of internal disturbances during periods of unrest. The Branch also patrols, escorts and perform guard duties to Members of Parliament, VIP's and foreign dignitaries.

Homicide Bureau

The basic role of this unit is to investigate and assist in the investigation of all murders and serious wounding throughout Trinidad and Tobago where the victim is in a critical condition at hospital or other institution. It is also charged with responsibility for the examination of all occurrences, which result in the loss of human life with a view to determine whether an offence has been committed; the examination of all reports of missing persons to determine whether such person is missing due to the commission of a serious crime.

Human Resource Branch

This is the nerve centre for the Police Service administration and management of activities providing a wide range of services to Police Officers and members of the general public. Its services to the Police clientele includes the delivery of personnel services viz: the processing of transfers, acting appointments, resignations, sick and vacation leave, staff reports, personnel files and the general upkeep and updating of records. Members of the public benefit from the processing of licenses and permits ranging from applications for firearms, ammunition and explosives, bingos and raffles to private security operators' precepts for officers, street marches and street collections among its varied functions.

Inter Agency Task Force (IATF)

This Unit comprises officers from both the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force. The establishment of this unit serves as a Crime Intervention strategy and has been quite successful in its operations

Interpol

Trinidad and Tobago's link with other international crime prevention agencies. This section serves as the Police base for receiving, investigating and dissemination of data on Criminal activity involving any of the one hundred and seventy-four Interpol member states. Limited humanitarian requests are also dealt with. The acquisition and upkeep of data on foreign fugitives, genuine and counterfeit foreign currency notes for the information of legitimate police enquiries also falls under the jurisdiction.

Modus Operandi

The Modus Operandi Unit compiles Statistics and keeps records on all crimes in general, missing and wanted persons, firearm offences and the seizures made in respect of such offences.

Mounted and Canine Section

The section is associated with the detection of narcotic substances and is now used extensively at Trinidad and Tobago's international airports and other ports of entry. These animals and their handlers also perform guard and patrol duties at the residences of Trinidad and Tobago' dignitaries, search buildings, track suspects, pursue and subdue suspects fleeing from the scene of crimes, parades, bomb detection and crowd control.

Photography Section

Another specialist section whose function is to photograph the scene of crimes, serious accidents and any material relating to the commission of a crime or incident. This includes the photographing of fingerprints and questioned documents in order to preserve evidence of value in the process of crime investigation or presentation before the courts. Persons coming into custody of the Police and those participating in riots and demonstrations are also photographed for evidence of infractions of the law. These highly trained officers gain their expertise by participating in courses provided by senior officers and at international agencies.

Planning and Development Unit

This Section is entrusted with providing a unique range of services from research, statistics, budgeting and data processing to the production of maps outlining the ratio of Police stations to population size per district and manuals on management. They also provide a legal advisory service and are linked to the Human Resource Management Portfolio.

Police Armour Shop

This small but very important Section performs the following functions: Responsibility for the repair, testing, proving, storage, servicing and disposal of firearms. Their duties also include examination and disposal of ballistic exhibits. They conduct musketry courses for officers who use and handle firearms in the Police Service, Supplemental Police and statutory Authorities and Securities Finns, including the co-ordination of practical training at the shooting range.

Police Band

Over the years this institution has developed into one of the most organized musical entities in Trinidad and Tobago. The Band performs a variable repertoire of music and is in demand throughout the year performing at concerts, calypso shows, ceremonial openings and parades.

Police Training College

In 1890, the St.James Barracks was first officially used for the training of Police Officers. This also marked a turning point in the history of the service whereby, not only recruits received training but also for the first time older members of the Police Force were trained to use firearms. This also marked the first time that local officers were issued with arms and ammunition to be used in the exercise of their duties. Today, the Police Training College as it is now known continues in the training of new recruits and conducting courses for probationers as well as management and refresher courses for serving members. Some of these courses are conducted in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, Central Training Unit, and professional management consultants who provide the resource personnel for senior management courses.

Criminal Gang And Itelligence Unit (C.G.I.U)

This Unit is responsible for targeting and monitoring offenders as well as collecting intelligence. It comprises three elements:

• A Gang/CGIU Subcommittee with the Homicide Prevention Working Group to:
  • Identify chronic offenders
  • Execute special tactics and strategies to arrest and incarcerate chronic offenders
• A Besson Street Gang/CGIU Task Force
• A Besson Street Gang/CGIU Intelligence Detail

Since the inception of the ROP taskforce, the unit has conducted a series of patrols, surveillance and other exercises. Some of the offenders arrested under this program have been charged for offences ranging from murders to woundings. The unit then went on to become C.I.U Criminal Investigation Unit and then later changed to and now still remains C.G.I.U

Special Reserve Police

The first information given on the establishment of the Special Reserve Police takes us way back to the early days of the Police service when prominent persons from the community were asked or appointed to assist the Police Force of the day because of its lean numbers, in cases of emergency and on special occasions. At present the theme remains the same but Special Reserve Policemen and Women are now governed by an Act of Parliament. They also must be willing to risk their lives and die for their country, they are also obligated to be stationed anywhere at any time and even abandon their family for their line of duty.

Stolen Vehicles Squad

Perhaps one of the most scrutinized sections of the Police service due mainly to the drastic increase in stolen vehicles over the past five years. This Unit is charged with the responsibility for the investigations of all reports of stolen vehicles, illegal stripping and sale of stolen vehicle parts. The reality is that the SVS is one of the under appreciated unit in the service .The simply reality is that all other area of crime in Trinidad touch and concerns this unit . Drugs lords, kidnapper, bank robber,car thief all need vehicles to advance their criminal enterprises . vehicles that are not traceable back to them and that can be abandon at a moment notices.

thus with all other area of crime feeding of the stolen vehicle enterprise, why would there only be 15 officers to deal with this national and international criminal epidemic

The Special Branch

The Special Branch is tasked with the following mandate:

• Intelligence gathering and processing
• Conducting investigations into the antecedent and activities of some foreigners entering the country and persons suspected of being involved in subversive activities
• The provision of protection to the President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries
• Conducting of threat assessments, and
• The Provision of security services.

The main thrust of the intelligence gathering and processing activities has been confined to matters of a political or subversive nature. This is so because of the changing environment in which the Branch operates. In that regard, the main security concerns which now beset this nation, and which is of concern to the Branch is the discreet gathering of information related to crime and criminal activities. This has resulted in the Special Branch widening its focus to actively pursue intelligence of a criminal nature, so as to better serve the investigative and operational arms of the Police Service.

Transport and Telecommunications Branch

The principal role of the Transport and Telecommunications Branch is to ensure the maintenance of a continuous, effective system of mobility for all the communications and electrical services throughout the Police Service. It also provides transportation services, as the name implies but functions mainly as the repair and services department for the Police vehicle fleet. They are also charged with the following:

• Repair and servicing of communications equipment.
• Installation of intercom units, generators, mobile stations and antennas.
• Purchasing and storage of telecommunications equipment.
• Providing background information for applicants for radio-telecommunications licenses.

The main section is located at the Police Training College with the supplemental outlets situated at Siparia, San Fernando, Tunapuna, Sangre Grande and Scarborough.

Uniforms

• Senior officers wear beige Khaki drill Guayabera shirts and trousers, worn with black Sam Browne Belts
• Male officers wear white shirts and black trousers for formal dress
• Female officers wear white shirts and black skirts for formal dress
• Male officers wear beige shirts with dark trousers
• Females wear dark blue shirts with skirts worn with black Sam Browne Belts
• Tactical officers wear dark blue shirt and trousers or Disruptive Pattern Material
• Regular officers and senior officers wear forrige caps
• Tactical officers wear Blue caps

Incidents of Corruption

The Port of Spain Siege on July 14, 2015.

See also

• Crime in Trinidad and Tobago
• Jack Ewatski - former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)

References

External links

• Official website