THA CHIEF: INCREASE POLICE RETIREMENT AGE FROM 55 to 60

This is part of a strategy titled "Tobago Community Responds To Crime" to combat the increase in crime on the island. It also includes upgrading the infrastructure of police stations and a series of discussions with different sectors and communities throughout Tobago.

However, London admitted that one of the biggest hindrances in the fight against crime was the lack of man power.

"There is just not enough! And one of the issues that I would really want us to look at seriously is whether all police men of a certain rank must retire at 55. Something about the arithmetic is not working out. If you are not recruiting enough at one end then the numbers will dwindle. I would really want to start a dialogue as to whether we cannot consider a situation where the retirement age for policemen, even under the rank of ASP or whatever, some of them in their prime, some of them very good officers at the level of sergeants and inspectors, should not be increased from 55 to 60," he said.

London pointed out that over the past three years, Tobago had "lost" approximately five of its senior officers under the rank of ASP, which had negatively impacted the efficiency of the Police Service.

He added that while there may be "very good legal reasons" why an extension on the retirement age may not be possible, he plans to approach the National Security Minister to investigate the issue from a "layman" and "commonsense" perspective.

London also called on Tobagonians to understand that the fight against crime was everyone’s business, and to adopt the motto "it all begins with me."

"We have to start in Tobago a zero tolerance to crime and the zero tolerance to crime must be accepted by everybody. In other words, it must be a situation where crime is not accepted in the schools, crime is not accepted in the community, a criminal is not accepted in your own home. It is the only way that we can treat with the issue," London said.