Morvant police use map to fight crime

These new initiatives are being implemented daily at the five newly established Police Model Stations at West End, Morvant, Arouca, Chaguanas and San Fernando and have been successful thus far as there has been a significant reduction in crime in these districts.

Officers at the Morvant model police station agreed that the strengthened force, additional vehicles and the frequent foot and mobile patrols contributed to the decline in criminal activities.

Senior officers at Morvant say their crime fighting efforts have been enhanced by assistance and guidance from field technical advisors — specialists brought in from the US who are assigned to each model station.

They closely monitor the day-to-day operations of the station and implement measures, structures and policies for more effective and efficient crime fighting.

As part of the knowledge gained from these advisors, officers can now pinpoint problem areas in their district on colour-coded maps.

Sgt Seemungal Rampersad, administration sergeant at the station told Newsday: “Before we would not have been able to pinpoint the crime-stricken areas in the district but now with the maps, we have all the areas detected on the maps and we use different coloured inks to identify which area experiences the most of what crime. For example, we would have red maybe for sexual offences, or green for robberies, house break-ins, larcenies.

“These areas identified on the map are what the officers focus on, meaning we ensure there is visibility in the area - frequent police patrols and heightened police presence - to prevent criminals from carrying out their activities,” he added.

The Morvant station is part of the police service’s North Eastern Division and is headed by Senior Superintendent Errol Denoon. The model station came on stream on January 1 and is staffed by 100 officers.

Divisional crime recorder PC Richard Prince said since the introduction of model station initiative, crime in Morvant, which was regarded as gang-infested, has been reduced by 30-40 percent.

“We have had a significant decrease in crime, especially gang-related incidents. I can safely say that for the past two months there have been no recorded serious crimes.

Last year at the same time there was about 63 serious crimes compared to 45 this year,” Prince said.

“Obviously there are teething problems as in any organisation but we are able to deal with it and I think so far, so good,” he added.

Morvant district is bordered by Sixth Avenue in the east, the Priority Bus Route in the south, Morvant Old Road in the west and St Francois Valley Road in the north. Areas identified as high risk areas where there is heavy gang activity are Mon Repos/Never Dirty, part of Coconut Drive, Pelican Extension, Hirrondell Street, Cipriani Avenue and the Vegas area.

“Each of these areas has gangs but we have it closely monitored and the Inter Agency Task Force along with soldiers frequently patroll.

The soldiers are even stationed there as well. So, all in all we have the area on a lockdown,” said Sgt Tom Bernard of the Criminal Investigative Department (CID).

The model stations are also experimented with the phasing out of charge room diaries and officers are recording incoming reports on incident report forms.

These forms, Rampersad explained, can be used in court proceedings. “These forms make it very easy for the officers. They no longer have to wait on the diaries but they can take a form and full it out.

There are different sections, for example, the initial report made by whosoever, their address and contact number. There are also sections for follow up, if and when charges laid, case solved and court proceedings.”

When the forms are completed they are passed on to a supervisor, then to the clerk who logs it into the computer system.

Rampersad said there is a training programme for young officers which allows them to be directly “under the wings” of senior officers, known as field training officers.