T&T adds 359 Special Reserve Police officers to force before Christmas

Hundreds queue in search of jobs as SRPs

The minister of national security announced on Wednesday that Trinidad & Tobago would have an additional 359 Special Reserve Police Officers (SRPs) by Christmas.

In a media release Jack Warner said the first batch of 159 officers completed their training last week and will take up duties in some of the main shopping areas from Monday. The second batch which consists of 200 officers is expected to complete training next week.

“This additional manpower will be deployed to carry out foot patrols in Port of Spain, San Fernando, Chaguanas and Arima to ensure the safety of shoppers," Warner said. 

"As you know the police service has been significantly understaffed over the past several years and this initiative is part of our response to bring the service up to strength. Understandably, is has to be done in a phased basis because of the capacity at which we can train the officers,” he added.

Warner has Cabinet approval to hire 5,000 SRPs and has indicated his interest in recruiting an additional 5,000 more should it become necessary. A recent recruitment drive throughout the country saw over 50,000 persons applying to become SRPs.

Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams said all SRP applicants have been subject to a rigid screening process which involves tracing of their criminal records and training. He said recruitment and training of SRPs would continue throughout 2013.

Earlier this week the TTPS Port of Spain Division’s Anti-Crime initiative was launched in the Capital City, which includes around-the-clock foot and mobile patrols.