800 Municipal cops coming

Moses, who is also Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister, made this disclosure as he informed the Senate, “the Government does not intend to re-introduce community comfort patrols.” He told senators, “This programme did not achieve its objective and was found to be extremely costly and ineffective.” Moses said the additional Municipal Police officers will assist in strengthening community safety and security. In addition, he said officers formerly involved in comfort patrols could be used to, “ focus on core policing activities like the investigation of offences.” Noting the need for a visible police presence in certain communities, Moses said mobile and foot patrols have been amplified in those areas. “High priority has been placed on policing the Northern and Central Police Divisions, which have seen an increase in joint army police operations,” the minister said. Moses also said the manpower of the Police Service’s Homicide Bureu has been increased as well as the training of its officers.

He said the Police Service’s Cold Case Unit has also been strengthened, “with additional investigators.” Later in the sitting, Moses said police do receive training for dealing with people who are mentally ill. He did not share a claim from Opposition Senator Wade Mark that the ministry’s parliamentary secretary, Glenda Jennings Smith, reportedly said police were not trained to handle these people.