National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds has again called on police officers to operate within the law when it comes to defending themselves in the line of duty.
The minister doubled down on a call he made on Tuesday at the first passing out of over 150 police officers for 2024 at the Police Academy, St James Barracks, yesterday.
“You will forever hear that voice ringing in the back of your souls, the voice of your instructor telling you repeatedly, ad nauseam, that you must use no more force than is absolutely necessary, whatever that force must be, and saying further to you that you must follow the law and follow the Constitution of the Republic,” Hinds told the new officers.
The minister also made similar comments the previous day in response to calls by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for police officers to “return fire with full force against criminals” who engage them with guns during their duties.
“If criminals point a gun at you, shoot at you or attack you, return fire with full force, defend yourselves, do not be hesitant. Being hesitant can cost you your life... If you point a gun at or attack a police officer to endanger his or her life, the police have a right to defend themselves with lethal force,” Persad-Bissessar had said during the launch of the Star slate for the party’s internal election in Couva on Monday.
Yesterday, Hinds added that the Government will continue to provide opportunities and resources for the constant and continuous upskilling and modernisation of the police service. He called on the entire police service to start pushing back against crime in the country.
“We depend on you to push back the bullies, push back the drug merchants, push back the extortionists, and those who live by fear, by brandishing guns, intimidating the rest of the society to cringe in fear, running their crime as a business. We depend on the police service, but we are also acutely aware that we all have a role to play, and we must all work together to achieve the peace of this country,” Hinds said.
Hinds also condemned the recent viral videos and local newspaper reports that show many of T&T’s young people choosing crime and wrongdoing as a way of life.
He quoted Jamaican dancehall legend Buju Banton, “There is good and evil, and you choose good. The reality is that you will operate as police officers in a society where, for some, violence, crime, hate, selfishness, and suchlike are the preferred options.”
Hinds said as Government fights against crime, they recently operationalised nearly 2,500 cameras across T&T. These were in addition to the approximately 1,749 cameras already on the grid, he said. Furthermore, he said the National Security Council had mandated the procurement of another 2,500 cameras to add to the existing network.
Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher called on the new officers to place integrity and professionalism at the forefront.
She said, “Your position as a law enforcement officer requires you to conduct yourself above reproach. You must be an exemplar in conduct. You need now to seriously consider the associations you maintain, the places you go, and the activities you engage in.”
The TTPS expects to recruit 1,000 new police officers for 2024. — With reporting by Otto Carrington