Cash for cops on leave

Government will soon be asked to consider a proposal to offer monetary compensation for over 1,000 police officers who are now on long leave, and those who have acquired years of leave. Sources revealed yesterday that the proposal has already been drafted and has found favour with the executive of the Police Service. The proposal will soon be sent to the Police First and Second Divisions. A package comprising how much money should be offered to the police officers is expected to be decided by the two police divisions. The strength of the Police Service is about 7,000 and 15 percent of those officers were on leave until last week, when they were asked to return to work.

Senior officers told Sunday Newsday that several police officers who have acquired years of leave go abroad and work before returning home for duty, others take up positions at security companies while some work as taxi drivers. The intention of the executive of the Service is to utilise all officers in the fight against crime. Last Wednesday, Commissioner Trevor Paul recalled officers on leave and asked them to report for duty on Monday at stations where they previously worked. Officers who are on pre-retirement leave and those out of the country are exempted. Yesterday, Police Commission-er Paul told Sunday Newsday that members of the public will see more police officers on patrol on a round the clock basis. He said that it would be the first step of the anti-crime initaiative.

“What the public will be seeing is a visible police presence,” said Commissioner Paul. Sunday Newsday learnt that the returning officers will be deployed in all hot spot crime areas. Last week, all police divisions were asked to identify the hot spot crime areas. This was followed by a meeting held at Police Headquarters with all Inspectors in charge of crime from all police divisions. Up until yesterday 168 persons were murdered for the year. On Friday, Commissioner Paul and Minister of National Security Martin Joseph spent several hours meeting to discuss the new anti-crime strategy.