4,000 cops for Carnival

The Police Service will be boosted by the inclusion of officers assigned to desk duties.

The desk officers will join forces with their colleagues to conduct foot and mobile patrols wherever Carnival activities are taking place.

Dogs trained in bomb and explosive detection will also be used on Carnival Monday and Tuesday as part of the security arrangements.

Officers will be focusing on ensuring that crimes committed against visitors to this country are kept to a minimum. People attending j’ouvert celebrations will be closely monitored and random searches done for illicit weapons and drugs.

Officers will also focus heavily on deterring car thieves during Carnival Monday and Tuesday. Figures last year revealed that a number of people lost vehicles which were parked in and around Port-of-Spain.

Officers of the Mounted Branch have already begun to train horses for Carnival activities. The horses will be used for crowd control during the two days of Carnival.

Newsday learnt that all police divisions have been asked to come up with anti-crime initiatives for the Carnival. Those initiatives will be put in place to ensure that Carnival 2006 is crime-free.

The three Sky Watch Units will be strategically placed in Port-of-Spain, Central and San Fernando to monitor crowds during Carnival Monday and Tuesday.

Last Friday, the three units were finally outfitted with surveillance cameras and monitors. Crime hotspots will also be heavily patrolled.

Newsday learnt that Defence Force soldiers will also be utilised during the Carnival season.

The Skyship 600 will also be used for surveillance duties while helicopter patrols from the Special Anti-crime Unit will also be in place.