Police challenged by murders

However, he said the police have had a ten percent reduction in violent crimes for the period January to June. This includes, he said, a reduction in firearms seizures and in fatal traffic accidents.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the TTPS weekly press briefing at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain, Pierre said reported violent crimes for January to June stood at 1,956, compared to 2,294 for the same period in 2015.

“This figure is a 14.73 percent reduction,” he said.

Where illegal firearms are concerned, he said “we have seized 397 (this year) and for 2015 we have seized 321, which is a 23.7 percent increase in seizures.

“For ammunition, 5,452 seized (this year) and for 2015 we have had 4,463, which is a 22 percent increase.

“However, to date we have seized 14,675 rounds of ammunition when compared to the period last year — 5,703, which is a 157 percent increase in the seizure of ammunition,” he explained.

Pierre said the TTPS will continue to partner with communities and other key stakeholders to intensify its firearm-violence reduction strategy, drive murders down and increase the detection rate.

He said from January to June they recorded 11,871 road traffic accidents as opposed to 16,690 for the same period in 2015, which is a 28.87 percent reduction.

There was a 22.7 percent reduction of fatal accidents, with 51 in the first six months this year and 66 last year.

He said there has been an 18.9 percent increase in highway patrols, with 10,721 in 2015 and 12,748 this year.

Pierre said more than 22,000 motorists were tested for driving intoxicated — a 69.5 percent increase