Cops launch anti-crime plan for Yuletide Season

POLICE throughout the country have stepped up patrols and introduced special anti-crime initiatives aimed at ensuring law and order during the hectic Christmas season.

Police officers from all stations in the Port-of-Spain Division have began carrying out foot and mobile patrols from Park Street to Independence Square  until the end of the year. These patrols started last Monday and officers involved have been detailed to work from 7 am to 7 pm. Senior officers told Newsday the city patrol was the brainchild of ACP (Operations) Oswyn Allard, and is being coordinated by Supt Errol Denoon.

Sources said these patrols were aimed at ensuring the safety of shoppers from bandits and pick-pockets during the hectic shopping in Port-of-Spain for the Christmas Season. Newsday was told that plainclothes and uniform police officers would  mingle with shoppers to prevent pick-pockets from carrying out their illegal trade. They will also focus on shoplifting and  store robbery. Officers of the Mounted Branch will join the patrols around mid-December when shopping is expected to heighten. Newsday learned that all police divisions were asked to submit an anti-crime plan for the Christmas Season.

In Northern Division, officers plan to implement special patrols to ensure that visitors arriving in the country are not held-up and robbed as they leave Piarco International Airport. Similar patrols and surveillance by police, have been organised in other Police Divisions throughout the country. In Central Division, certain streets will be closed off to motorists and police officers will mingle with shoppers to prevent the slashing of bags straps by petty thieves. Special attention will be paid by police to banks, jewelry stores and other major businessplaces and shopping centres throughout the country. Members of the public are advised not to wear excessive jewelry when going shopping nor walk  with large amounts of cash on their person.