Police Commissioner laments violent crime increase

“There is a disturbing trend evolving. There is a marked increase in violent cimes such as murders, robberies and assault. That is telling us that our society is becoming more violent, that our ability to deal with anger needs to be looked at and the values that underpin our society need to be reviewed and implemented.”

Commissioner of Police Hilton Guy made those statments at the launch of the Community Safety and Enhancement Programme (CSEP) under the Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs held yesterday at the Hilton Trinidad. In mobilising the national community to join the police service and social groups in their commitment to reduce crime, particularly serious crimes, Guy said that the Police Service is “not left as the vanguard” in achieving community safety and enhancement.  “We have partners,” he said. He agreed with Minister of Community Development and Gender Affairs Joan Yuille Williams’ view that all communities need to return to the days when community safety was the business of every resident.

The CSEP has replaced the Neighbourhood Watch Programme which was launched in 1996. It is aimed at promoting community safety and security, through the promotion of crime prevention strategies and projects with resource support from internal and external sources. Admitting that the NWP failed in its effort to reduce crime, Guy said there was need to review “our” situation and come up with another structure. He said that law enforcement will not solve crime problems, but the implementation of crime control methods and strengthening the family unit, since “a number of families comprise the community” will prove effective. Chamber of Commerce representative Everol Dupigny said that the re-launch of the crime stoppers programme, an initiative of his organisation, has resulted in a total of 887 tip offs with 515 cases cleared and solved, 32 murders solved, nine kidnappers arrested and $2.9M in narcotics seized.

Dupigny appealed for national response to making TT a crime free nation and informed of how each individual can be a part of the CSEP. He said: “Take a note of the number 800-TIPS. If witness to a crime you can make an anonymous call. You’ll never be identified, you’ll never be called upon as a witness... There’s even a reward and no one has to know who is receiving the reward. You’ll be given a signed code number which you take to the bank to collect your reward.” He said that the scourge of crime can be beaten and “packing up and flying out is not an option for most of us”. Other speakers at the launch included Chairman of the National Crime Reduction and Prevention Committee Ken Gordon, and Senator Joan Yuille Williams.