Don’t hurt the children

The officer in focus was acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher, who was speaking yesterday at the Edinburgh 500 Recreation Grounds, Chaguanas, following a walkathon hosted by the Women Police Bureau.

“Child abuse is wrong,” she said, “And we ask all children, adults, anyone, who is aware of it, to make it their business and report it to any police station or to the Child Protection Unit.” The theme of the event was,” It should not hurt to be a child.” And Christopher recalled that the Child Protection Unit of the Police Service was established in May 2015.

From then to July last, police received more than 2,595 reports of child abuse. Of that number, Christopher added, 520 cases are before the courts of law.

“ The children are our future and we have a moral obligation to protect them and to ensure that they live a life free from harm and abuse,” she added.

Last year, the Women Police Officers celebrated their 60th anniversary (Diamond Jubilee).

Christopher yesterday noted that August is considered - Woman Police Month - simply because it is the month in which the first batch of women entered the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).

The senior policewoman noted that women in the service have evolved over the 61 years. “ Right now we have many women in leadership positions. We have women leading at least ten division branch sections in the service,” she said.

Among those in attendance were: ACP Enez Joseph; Snr Supt (Tobago), Joanne Archie; Snr Supt (Central) Floris Hodge-Griffith; acting Snr Supt, Patsy Joseph; and ASP Vena Butler of the Police Academy.

Acting Commissioner of Police, Stephen Williams, who is currently on vacation, also attended the event along with Head of Corporate Communications at the TTPS, Ellen Lewis.

The TTPS comprises nine Divisions throughout Trinidad and Tobago as well as 18 branches, Squads and Units.