National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds has labelled Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s call for police officers to “return fire with full force” against criminals as dangerous and reckless.
During an interview with Guardian Media yesterday, Hinds said Persad-Bissessar’s statement was irresponsible.
“She has now gone on to call on the police in particular to stand your ground, empty the clip, lock it, cock it. Now I speak as a former police instructor, I speak as an attorney-at-law and, of course, as a legislator and Minister of National security, as far as I and the police are aware, the law and the ethos is and has always been no more than is absolutely necessary is to be used.”
Persad-Bissessar made the call while addressing supporters at the launch of the Star slate for the party’s June 15 internal elections at the Couva South Multipurpose Hall on Monday night.
Persad-Bissessar said when faced with danger, police officers have the right to defend themselves.
“Tonight, I tell all TTPS officers —if criminals point a gun at you, shoot at you or attack you, return fire with full force, defend yourselves! Don’t be hesitant! Being hesitant can cost you your life. I’m in full support of our police officers standing their ground against violent criminals.”
The Opposition Leader added that police officers must be supported and given the power to protect themselves, but must use the power with discretion.
She added, “I’m warning this country that we cannot tie our police officers’ hands when they respond in pursuit of violent criminals. Officers only have a split second to respond to attacks, we cannot have our officers doubting our support, this can cost them their lives.”
But Hinds yesterday said the call for officers to stand their ground was misguided and that a police’s right to defend themselves while in the line of duty has never ceased.
“The lady, in trying to gain support for her reckless comment months ago, is calling on the police saying they must have the right to defend themselves. The lady does not realise apparently, senior counsel as she is, that the police always had that right, they have that right. They have used that right on many occasions but they are constrained to observe the principle that you must use no more force than is necessary.
“So if the police is able to subdue a man with a baton or with a taser, or with gas and then go on to use a lethal barrel weapon and pump bullets into this man, who is already under control, then that police exposes himself to criminal prosecution.”
Hinds said he was confident the TTPS is sufficiently grounded and professional enough to reject the “reckless” comment.
He pointed out that there appeared to be diverging opinions within the UNC on the matter, noting that vice chairman Khadijah Ameen recently stated that perpetrators must be afforded a fair trial so the public could regain confidence in the criminal justice system.
Also contacted yesterday, former commissioner of police Gary Griffith said while he supports the Opposition Leader’s advocacy for law enforcement officials accessing firearms while off duty, he was at odds with her on the “return fire with full force position”.
“What is required in any aspect of policing is minimum use of force. The minimum use of force policy has to be maintained. If at any time we go over that threshold, then we become no different than the criminals themselves,” Griffith said.
He said intelligence-driven police operations, in addition to other policies at this time, were critically important than before.
“There are many things that could be done for the police officers. If you give them the minimum use of force policy, from verbal persuasion to body cameras, to pepper sprays and the firearms, and then using the firearm if at any time their life is at risk.”
Griffith said officeholders should be guarded with their words so as to not give the impression that the police go outside of their role and function. He advised officers to “stay within their authority”
Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Social and Welfare Association president, ASP Gideon Dixon, also said he had taken note of Persad-Bissessar’s comments and maintained officers were trained to operate within the laws.
“We are nearing a general election and persons will put things in the public place to get votes or to get persons to see things a particular way. However, by and large, our officers operate within the context of the law and parameters of the use of force policy.”
Meanwhile, criminologist Darius Figuera was of the view that Persad-Bissessar’s position may be rooted in politics, not crime.
“All it is, is a desperate attempt to survive against odds that are becoming increasingly not in her favour,” Figuera said.