Police integrity survey coming

In a closed-door meeting with various business chamber heads from throughout the country at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber headquarters in Westmoorings, Joseph said the measures were going to be implemented soon.

The police survey will be put in place by the end of May and the Internal Affairs Division will be given "top priority," Joseph assured.

He insisted that Government was trying to address the crime situation over the past 18 months.

The meeting, which began at about 5.45 pm and which was closed to the media, came in the wake of a call by members of the business community for both the Government and the Opposition to put aside their differences and deal with the escalating crime problem.

As part of the crime fighting plan, Joseph told the business community that he wanted to change the whole concept of the Police Complaints Division to one which dealt with internal affairs, and which will have the responsibility of the "monitoring of police at a certain level."

"We want to change the name of the Police Complaints Division to Internal Affairs to reflect what the division is about," he said, noting that this was going to be given "top priority."

Joseph elaborated on his crime initiative, telling them that in order to deal with the gangs, security was going to be beefed up in "other problem areas."

Joseph also said that the Defence Force was going to be strengthened.

Chamber president Christian Mouttet, who also addressed his colleagues, said they were present to listen to the minister and what he described as "the Government’s crime initiative."

"It’s about getting a handle on the crime situation," he told them.

Joseph also spoke about strengthening the management of the Police Service and the Police Reform Bills, which he said, will not only provide more accountability, but give more power to the Police Service.

In an interview before the meeting, Mouttet said the meeting with the minister was "exploratory" to see what ideas were going to be put on the table.