4,000 cops did Carnival duty

MORE THAN 4,000 police officers worked during the Carnival period, including those who were on leave and who were called out on Carnival Friday. Also on duty were officers normally assigned desk duties. Anti-crime measures adopted by the police were coordinated by Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee, who told Newsday, planning for Carnival started three months ago.

He said he met with the heads of all police divisions, as well as Carnival bandleaders, officials of Pan Trinbago, the National Carnival Commission and the National Carnival Bands Association. Chin Lee said it was discovered that crimes were being committed in certain areas every year and those areas were marked off as “hot spots”. He said the police and army personnel concentrated on those areas.In addition, visitors were advised to stay on route and not to expose jewelry and large sums of money. Chin Lee will be meeting shortly with the police and army officials for a post mortem on the festival, and to start planning for next year. The Minister visited Carnival venues in Port-of-Spain, Arouca, Chaguanas, and San Fernando on Monday. On Tuesday he did an aerial tour with ACP Crime Oswyn Allard and Deputy Commissioner Trevor Paul. In the Port-of-Spain area, officers of the Port-of-Spain CID, the Port-of-Spain Division, Guard and Emergency Branch, Homicide, Interpol, Criminal Records Office, Internal Investigations, Narcotics, the Anti-Corruption Unit and Fraud Squad, Traffic Branch and Mounted Branch, carried out patrols and special surveillance duties. Mr Guy said yesterday that manpower was utilised to ensure that crime was kept down to a minimum.

He added that the police adopted a zero tolerance approach. In all divisions, the Task Force officers mingled among Jouvert revellers and carried out random searches which resulted in the seizure of a quantity of weapons. In  Port-of-Spain 47 persons were arrested for possession of offensive weapons, four for arms and ammunition, six for possession of marijuana and two for obstruction of a police officer. Weapons seized included two pistols and three revolvers. A total of 61 persons were arrested. Commissioner Guy said only four vehicles were reported stolen in Port-of-Spain, a 99 percent decrease in that type of crime. There was also a marked decrease in larceny from the person and wounding with intent.