Motivation is the key

THE RECALLING of all policemen on vacation back on the job must be seen as a positive move by Commissioner Trevor Paul. The immediate message such a step should send to the Service is that the attack on crime by the Police must be pursued with full force. The country is facing a crisis of lawlessness, violence, murder and kidnapping which requires nothing less than an all-out effort on the part of its law enforcers. It is encouraging to note that members of the Service apparently recognise this need and that a majority, more than 600 officers, have responded readily and positively to the Commissioner’s call, in spite of the annoyance of the Police Social and Welfare Association which has complained about the way the recall order was issued.

Following a briefing on Tuesday morning, the recalled officers were redeployed to 18 areas all over country identified as high-risk hot spots. On the face of it and by virtue of increased numbers, we may expect that this measure by Commissioner Paul should have some impact on the crime situation, particularly in TT’s crime prone districts. The latest “plan,” it would seem, is to keep this redeployment in place until the police hierarchy is convinced that crime has been reduced to an acceptable and manageable level. However, experience tells us that the posting of increased numbers of policemen in stations and other strategic places across the country, while it may be helpful, will not necessarily provide the results we expect in the war against crime. Indeed, it may turn out to be just another unavailing gambit if officers are prepared only to go through the motions without any serious commitment to protect and serve.

The country, we believe, has now become painfully aware that the problem with the Police Service is not so much a lack of manpower and equipment, but rather the generally poor quality of motivation and the indifference, disinterest, lethargy and even the hostility that members of the public encounter in their dealings with police officers. Indeed, the situation is such that many law-abiding citizens would prefer to accept their losses, whatever they may be, in resignation rather than bother with reporting incidents of crime to police stations. A classic illustration of this lackadaisical and uncaring attitude was recently seen in the action of policemen who turned back from investigating a crime report when they found that the scene was not located in the “jurisdiction” of their police station. And only yesterday we were moved to comment on the death of a La Brea party-goer who was shot by the Police and, according to reports, left bleeding on the ground for some two hours.

This demoralising spirit that pervades so much of the Service is the essential reason why we are still so horrified by the failure of the Parliament to approve the Police Reform Bills which would have restructured the administration of the Service, making it more efficient and accountable and providing it with the authority to discipline, to purge the non-performers and to create a fresh spirit and morale among the officers. Until that change takes place, until we have a team of committed, motivated and well-trained policemen, the war against crime will not really be fought with full force.
Commissioner Paul may be commended for his recall measure and for his determination to employ all the resources at his command, but in seeking to eradicate the endemic lethargy and inspire a new energy and dynamism in the Service, he may well find himself just another “toothless bulldog.”