Top cop: Police doing its best

ACP Hackshaw was responding yesterday to statements made by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, in a televised interview. The Prime Minister stated: “I am not satisfied in any area of crime management, crime detection and crime suppression. I am not satisfied with any area. It is an intractable problem that has been with us for some time.” According to ACP Hackshaw, serious crimes have decreased by 20 percent. The detection rate has seen a 52 percent success rate in the Eastern Division, 60 percent in South Western and 37 percent in Tobago Division. He said the six other divisions have already achieved a 20 percent success rate.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister also spoke about alleged corruption in the police service. “Rooting out corruption in the police service is fundamental to the creation of a police service that a population can trust and officers themselves can trust their colleagues,” PM Rowleys said.

In response, ACP Hackshaw said: “The Professional Standards Bureau continues to investigate officers over alleged misconduct and misbehaviour along with the Police Complaints Authority.

There are mechanisms in place to have these activities managed and investigated.” Efforts to reach Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams for comments on the Prime Minister’s comments proved futile while the president of the Police Social And Welfare Association Michael Seals said that he would first have to review the PM’s statements before giving a response.