Jack Warner wants more police stations, more fire stations and greater police visibility as part of his overall vision.
The national security minister made the point at a media briefing Monday following a meeting with members of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA).
Warner also explained why he is not a fan of the 21st century policing initiative introduced last year.
With respect to police stations, the minister said he expects to have nine built in the shortest possible time. The previous administration had planned to build 17 new stations but he is being more realistic and starting with nine. He didn't identify where they would be located or provide an estimated cost for the structures.
However he said he would like to see a fire station go up with every new police station. “If you go Moruga, you will get a police station and a fire station. If you go Mayaro, same thing,” he said.
With respect to police stations, the minister said he expects to have nine built in the shortest possible time. The previous administration had planned to build 17 new stations but he is being more realistic and starting with nine. He didn't identify where they would be located or provide an estimated cost for the structures.
However he said he would like to see a fire station go up with every new police station. “If you go Moruga, you will get a police station and a fire station. If you go Mayaro, same thing,” he said.
Warner also explained what he considers to be defects in the new policing system introduced. That initiative involved closing some police stations.
The minister said, “Nobody can convince me that closing a police station will help put down crime. Here in T&T, we have a culture where we rush to the police station to complain and give reports.”
He noted that the E-999 is under extreme pressure with up to 22,000 calls a year, the majority of which are prank calls. "E-999 said people called when their husbands did not come home early, or when their neighbour was threatening them. They say they can’t go to the police station, so they are calling E-999,” he said.
He noted that the E-999 is under extreme pressure with up to 22,000 calls a year, the majority of which are prank calls. "E-999 said people called when their husbands did not come home early, or when their neighbour was threatening them. They say they can’t go to the police station, so they are calling E-999,” he said.
Warner also wants to "flood the streets" with soldiers, policemen, estate constables and municipal policemen because as he put it, "high visibility has been proven to be very effective.”
He also talked about the underutilisation of equipment. "The irony is that in Chaguanas there are five motorcycles and one policeman to ride them. Something has to be wrong," Warner said, adding that someone must be held responsible for these errors.
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