Cops take to the sky for Carnival

Air patrols with the use of helicopters will be introduced on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. This initiative is part of the anti-crime plan which will be put into effect shortly.

Yesterday, Police Commissioner Everald Snaggs promised a more effective approach in reducing crime, and added that members of the public will see the desired results shortly. Commissioner Snaggs, who revealed his service delivery action plan for the year during a press briefing yesterday, said one of the specific objectives will be to improve intelligence gathering. This will involve the strengthening the intelligence systems and investigative capabilities of selected officers through specialised training.

Plans are afoot to increase manpower within the Anti-Kidnapping and the Firearm Interdiction Units. Members of the public will also see 24-hour patrols in areas identified as “criminal hot-spots” as well as increased roadblocks, searches, and foot and mobile patrols in pursuit of criminal interdiction initiatives. He added that with Carnival fast approaching, police will increase their presence at Piarco and Crown Point Airports as well as seaports of entry.

Focus will also be maintained on the main highways for travellers going to and from the airports. The Commissioner also revealed that he intends to introduce increased traffic safety throughout the country. In 2002, there were 163 road fatalities as compared to 198 for 2003. “Our aim therefore is to reduce road fatalities and improve safety for road users in general, and this priority also involves the reduction in incidences of speeding and other infractions of the law,” said the Commissioner.

The initiative will also include the aggressive enforcement of all traffic laws; increased round-the-clock traffic patrols; joint public education campaigns with the relevant stakeholders, and special collaboration with the Licensing Authority to engender public compliance of traffic laws and regulations. The Commissioner also revealed that four mobile stations have been deployed on the Solomon Hochoy Highway at Toruba Junction, the Churchill Roosevelt Highway at Solomon Hochoy Highway Intersection, Cascade and the Foreshore on the Audrey Jeffers Highway. The Commissioner reiterated that the public will see the results of the initiatives shortly.