More policemen, more eyes on crime

THE EDITOR: It was merely hours after Local Government Elections and barely a day since the installation of Acting Police Commissioner Snaggs when three seemingly unrelated murders were committed within a single hour. Could this be a form of psychotic posturing conveying that despite all, it’s still “business as usual” — another taunt and virtual slap in the face of the authorities? The reality is that everyone, including the Government, knows that not nearly enough is being done to curtail murders and kidnappings. The unprecedented upsurge in crime is an enigma that appears poised to short-circuit little brains in high offices. So we, the natives who must live here in TT, press on with proposal after proposal — advice after advice and plea after plea. Recently, former Police Commissioner Mr H Guy revealed that seven thousand officers make up the entire police service. Considering absenteeism, time-off, and vacation, study and extended sick leave, the actual number of officers on duty on a daily basis would be absurd given that the principal figure seems inadequate to begin with. In as much as our uninspired leaders can use all the help they can get, I would suggest the hasty implementation of incentives to attract more suitable citizens to the police service.

These motives should include a salary increase and a review of existing benefits with the intention of upgrading. Moreover, all officers, from constable to commissioner, should be afforded semi-annual stress management and courtesy courses/revisions that are specific to police recruits and adjunct to current hiring and training criteria. Needless to say, disciplinary action, where applicable, should be carried out expeditiously. Indeed, it would be shocking to learn that at least one of the aforementioned programmes are already in train since trends appear to contradict that supposition. The math is simple. An increased number of police officers would mean more law-enforcers available for deployment — more eyes on crime. Of course, the Regiment should remain as a contingency for shortfalls. Ultimately, the key is to make the average policeman proud of his job and to have him perceived in a more propitious light — an authoritative individual and keeper of the peace who commands respect by respecting others. The spin-off is bound to reflect more assertive and committed crime fighters.

DEXTER J RIGSBY
Mt Lambert