Stephen Williams, who acted as police commissioner from 2012 to 2018, says CoP Erla Harewood-Christopher’s plan for reduction of T&T’s murder rate by June is achievable. Success depends on the crime reduction strategies and policies she implements in the coming weeks, he said.
Harewood-Christopher spoke about her plan to reduce the murder rate when she appeared before a Joint Select Committee (JSC) of Parliament on Monday.
“We’d expect to see a change in the murder rate short-term by June, and long-term by December,” she said in response to questions from JSC members.
Williams, who commented on the four pillars of the strategy outlined by Harewood-Christopher to the JSC, explained: “The components addressed are all the key things that should be addressed in trying to get violent crime down.”
He said this includes precision policing, intelligence, proaction and prosecution.
“It was not on the basis of the strategy as it is made up, but it is about implementation of that strategy. So if you have excellent implementation of that strategy, then success can begin. The question is, is it possible? And I am saying yes.”
According to Williams, implementation and execution of crime reduction strategies will determine the success of the CoP’s plan. While it might be an excellent plan on paper, the critical factor is the support of the men and women who serve under Harewood-Christopher and who will be responsible for implementing the proposed strategies.
The former acting CoP said T&T is experiencing its bloodiest period ever with a murder toll that stood at 104 yesterday.
“I think 2023 demands that you take an aggressive approach to change,” he said.
“What she did was set an aggressive approach and the only way you can succeed is by trying.
“When you get the support of the staff, you progress faster. If you don’t get the support of the staff and they are basically undermining you, then you will progress slower,” Williams said.
Contacted for comment, former CoP Trevor Paul said: “I don’t know what she will be putting in place so for me to comment, I would be out of place.”
He said Harewood-Christopher would know what input she has and would have formulated crime reduction strategies based on that.
“For anyone to arrive at some objective, some output, they must measure all their inputs and if she has done that and she feels we can reach there, fine,” he pointed.
Paul pointed out that the TTPS alone could not reduce crime.
“There needs to be a better coming together of institutions to deal with the deviance that is existing in our society,” he said.