Cabinet approves $4M for Crime Stoppers

In making the announcement, National Security Minister Martin Joseph made the point that in Trinidad the funding for Crime Stoppers was the reverse of what obtained in other parts of the world. "That is (in other countries) the bulk of the funding comes from the private sector, with the Government just picking up the slack." In Trinidad, it was just the opposite — the private sector did not contribute in the same, their counterparts in other parts of the world did, towards the programme which is aimed at rewarding those citizens who provide important information in the battle against criminals.

Joseph noted that in 2003 Government funded Crime Stoppers to the tune of $3 million in 2003; $2 million in 2004 and $4 million in 2005.

Joseph also announced that Government had also approved the acquisition of Crime fighting Software computer technology costing $6.9 million, which according to National Security Minister Martin Joseph would give crime-fighting agencies a "filip" in terms of crime detection.

Joseph said the lack of such a computerised database significantly impeded the ability of all law-enforcement agencies to coordinate their recorded data, "thereby limiting their ability to solve crime."

He said there was a wide range of stored information in various agencies, but most of it was in a hand-written form. He said the hand-writing recognition software allowed the user to access the information in a computer format "allowing for manipulation for the database." Joseph said the major drug bust was the result of collaboration between all the law enforcement agencies as well as the improved technology ("which I do not want to specify"). He said charges were expected to be laid against the eight persons held. Joseph said as there is greater collaboration between the law enforcement agencies, the public would see the results.