Despite 2016 being a bloody year with murders now in the 450 region, acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams has described the period as a success for the Police Service, as various categories of serious crimes had drastically decreased.
In particular, he said, this was noted in the Besson Street area.
“Besson Street historically stood out as a station with the most murders. Besson Street as a station normally had more murders than the entire divisions in T&T and in 2016 we have seen a significant drop,” Williams said.
He said overall there was a two per cent reduction in overall violent incidents, which entailed woundings, shootings and murders.
“We have seen an increase in murders but we have seen a two per cent decrease in the overall total of murders shootings, woundings and murders,” Williams said, although noting one murder was still too many.
Without mincing words, Williams also hinted at vigorously weeding out rogue elements from the Police Service as part of a three-year crime plan beginning January 1, 2017, which he said would be publicly revealed at a later date. He said he expected to face “backlash” in his aggressive drive to weed out corrupt cops, but added that this was anticipated.
He made the comment at the final weekly police press briefing for the year at the police administration building in Port-of-Spain.
“I would say we have had a reasonably successful year. But I have some clear plans how I would remove rogue police officers from the organisation because it is critical as we seek to improve the image of the Police Service and build back trust in the organisation we must do clearing house,” Williams said.
He said one of his first anti-crime measures for this year was the appointment of McDonald Jacob as the Northern Division commander, describing him as an exceptionally hard worker.
“We have had 122 murders in Northern Division ... that’s the most murders recorded in Northern Division as far back as you could check, so something has gone wrong in Northern Division and to fix that it must start with the police leadership, so I have changed the leader and the entire leadership team in Northern Division and we have added more manpower,” Williams said.
In Enterprise, Chaguanas, which has also recorded a series of murders, Williams said he had several community meetings with residents in an effort to reach out to them. He said as part of the 2017 crime initiative, a heavy emphasis will be placed on violent crimes.
“That is what would be our focus in 2017 from day one...having a significant impact on violence, but we need the cooperation from the public and we need the cooperation from the media,” Williams said.
“A high priority for the Police Service for 2017 is driving the violent crimes down, so from a strategic perspective that’s where the focus would be.”
He said the Police Service was finalising its strategic plan, which is expected to end in 2019.
In giving other statistics he said there was a 23 per cent reduction in rapes and other sexual related offences, a 34 per cent reduction in kidnappings and 19 per cent reduction in larceny of motor vehicles. However, he said fraudulent offences has gone up by 62 per cent. He said this year some 730 illegal firearms were seized, representing more illegal firearms seized by the Police Service “than any other time in the history of the organisation.” Last year some 691 illegal weapons were seized.
The acting top CoP also praised the media for highlighting the good work done by the police.
On recent statements made by head of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) David West, who had likened the Police Service to a gang, Williams said while it was not his place to call for West’s removal, like what the Police Service Social and Welfare Association had publicly done, he felt West had “made irresponsible utterances on a series of occasions.”