Repeat offenders behind crime wave: Joseph

National Security Minister martin Joseph told the Senate Monday there is "mounting evidence" suggesting that much of Trinidad and Tobago's crime is committed by repeat offenders.

He said these people intimidate witnesses to win their freedom from the courts and then go back and commit murders and other serious crimes.

Speaking in the debate on the Evidence Amendment bill, Joseph noted that in the past four and a half years about 61 cases have been dismissed because the main witnesses either refused to give evidence, forgot or reneged on earlier testimony or retracted their statements.

There were five such cases in January and February this year, he said, and it coincided with a dramatic increase in homicides. He noted a similar trend in June when four people walked free and the killings reached 47 murders in that month.

Joseph said, "These people are responsible for multiple homicides on a very regular basis...In one of the cases which we are still prosecuting, one of the accused is believed to be responsible for 13 killings."

He said if that person is set free by the courts "there is nothing to suggest that he would not continue to exact revenge in all involved in his case and continue with killing spree".

Joseph said gang-related killings are more difficult to detect scientifically because of the lack of contact between shooter and victim. As a result such cases rely heavily on evidence from witnesses, who are often intimidated by criminals.

He said because of the trend of killing or intimidating witnesses and their families people are reluctant to give any evidence when serious crimes are committed.

"It is very difficult to estimate the impact of the legislation should it be passed, but our senior investigating officers believe that there are 17 potential offenders who could have been brought to justice if further measures were put in place to assist witnesses in relation to the fear of intimidation," he said.

However he acknowledged that there is a need for better law enforcement and better trained officers to conduct the investigations that could lead to more charges and convictions.