Re branding the Trinidad & TObago Police Force
The reason for the crisis of confidence that plagues the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service was recently manifested in two cases which are now making their way through the justice system. The arrest and charging of 13 police officers for crimes in relation to separate incidents of murder, and, in the other case, torture and abuse, served to confirm in the public’s mind that there may be some truth to similar allegations made over the years against members of the Service. It served, some might argue, to further damage the tenuous trust that exists between the public and the ‘boys in blue.’
On the other hand, one may view it in a positive light – that the long-promised drive to bring accountability and transparency to the Police Service is finally bearing some fruit. Certainly, one cannot make an assumption of guilt of those charged, but the mere fact that investigations have provided enough evidence to lay charges, augurs well for re-engineering the image of the Police Service.
When Commissioner of Police, Dwayne Gibbs and Deputy Commissioner, Jack Ewatski took over the reins of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service in September 2010, they came with a mandate, inter alia, to transform the Police Service.
Now, a little over one year into their tenure, we are seeing the expansion of the “21st Century Policing,” initiative to the Central Division, the objective being organisational transformation of the Police Service to meet the standards and expectations of a modern society.
By this change, radical modifications are being effected, such as moving to dual-officer mobile patrols in the communities, changeover to “Police Service Centres” and responses to trouble calls from a command centre, duty shifts of 12 hours, specialisation of detectives, automation of the Police Administration – and introduction of a more practical police uniform. Along with these, a number of special Units are being established, such as Domestic Violence and Special Victims, Crime Scene Investigations and Canine Support, Divisional Traffic and Divisional Tactical Support.
Creditably, the re-engineering of the TTPS’ brand is being supported by the Second Division Protective Services Association, comprised of members of the Police, Prisons and Fire Services, in the “Change Our World 2011.” The Association brands the programme as a cultural transformation effort, designed to effect “bottom up” change within the different arms of the protective services.
However, in order for public confidence to be fully restored to the Service, there is need for development and implementation of a system for the independent investigation and discipline of police officers who are accused of misbehaviour and or who are involved in extra-judicial killings. At present, apart from the disciplinary powers of the Commissioner under the Police Service Act, the exercise of which is not perceived by the public to be independent, complaints of this type must be directed the Police Complaints Authority.
The powers of this Authority are severely restricted, allowing only for making recommendations on whether consideration should be given to prosecute for a criminal offence, invoke disciplinary proceedings or any other appropriate action. The Act however fails to identify to whom such recommendations must be made.
In the Chamber’s opinion, these are areas which must be addressed urgently in order to address the crisis of confidence in the Police Service.
