No word from minister on PolSC survey on CoP, DCPs

Senior Reporter

dareece.polo@guardian.co.tt

Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Keith Scotland, has no updates on the status of the Police Service Commission’s (PolSC) Public Trust, Confidence, and Satisfaction Survey, which was intended to assess the effectiveness of the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioners. The survey had been scheduled to run from September 17 to October 8.

Speaking at the launch of the National Maintenance Training and Security Company’s (MTS) Special Elite Security Unit at its Aranguez headquarters yesterday, Scotland admitted he was not privy to the details of the survey but emphasised that the incoming members of the PolSC had significant work to do in rebuilding public trust in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).

“Things need to be done. More practical and urgent acts need to be taken to foster greater trust,” he stated.

The 2022 PolSC report, tabled in the House of Representatives last November, highlighted the gravity of the issue, revealing that only eight per cent of citizens believed the police were effectively addressing crime.

Scotland expressed optimism that initiatives such as the recently launched Joint Task Force One, operational in five divisions, could help restore confidence by increasing the visibility of joint police and army patrols. He also pointed to the establishment of the TTPS anti-extortion unit in October as another step toward improving public trust.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher affirmed her support for the newly approved PolSC members, noting no issues with their appointment.

“Any police service commission that is appointed, I am OK with. I have my job to do, and they have theirs and I believe we will continue to have a good working relationship,” she said.

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