Chin Lee: Technology to track vehicles coming

TECHNOLOGY to monitor vehicular movement by tracking and tracing vehicles engaged in criminal activities, including traffic violations, will soon be introduced into the Police Service. The technology is currently being used by law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. Yesterday, Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee said that this technology can be used to solve crime in Trinidad and Tobago. Minister Chin Lee who returned from an official trip to the United Kingdom last Thursday, said that he was able to pursue avenues for incorporating technology and training for the upgrade of local law enforcement agencies.

The Minister was accompanied on his trip by Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Ancil Antoine, Comman-ding Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, Captain Garnet Best and ACP Crime James Philbert. During the seven-day visit, the Minister met with a number of military and police officials who demonstrated the advantages of using surveillance technology as a means to improve internal security against crime and terrorism. On his visit to the Metropolitan Police in Central London, the Minister saw technology being used in number plate recognition. While in the UK, visits were also made to the London Police Training College, where the Minister was briefed on criminal investigations with specific reference to kidnapping. At the closed circuit television facility, the official party saw urban surveillance technology being used as a crime-fighting tool on the streets of London.

The Minister also explored training opportunities for Defence Force personnel during his visit. At the Lydd and Hythe, the Minister and  party witnessed a simulation exercise that demonstrated  techniques, which could be incorporated into the training of Trinidad and Tobago Regiment’s Special Operational Forces. To conclude his visit to the United Kingdom, the Minister toured the Defence System and Equipment International Exhi-bition where he was shown various technological options for the creation of a modern Joint Operations Command Centre in Trinidad and Tobago.