Criminologist, MP warn police: Don’t celebrate drop in murders yet

Criminologist Dr Randy Seepersad and shadow national security minister Dr Roodal Moonilal are both urging the TTPS not to boast about a reduction in murders just yet.

The men spoke with Guardian Media yesterday after DCP of Operations Junior Benjamin, during a visit to Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain, praised the efforts of both police and citizens in reducing the November murder count.

He said thanks to the leadership of the Police Service, particularly the divisional commanders who implemented the crime reduction plan of Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher, November saw a reduction in murders.

Benjamin explained there were some 30 murders last month but did not give a figure for last year. In a subsequent interview with Guardian Media, he said there were 31 murders in November this year and 43 last year. He added that November’s murder count was the lowest for the year as there were at least 50 murders a month.

But in an immediate response, criminologist Seepersad said murders fluctuate and a dip in last month’s figure should not be celebrated too much. He added that police should go after low-hanging fruits, such as improving its detection rate.

“You have to be very careful knowing that crime fluctuates, that you take a dip in murders that some kind of initiative has worked. It is a very difficult thing to establish a link between some kind of initiative that was put in place and a reduction, and you have to establish that very carefully.”

He added there are “gaps in the system” that need to be filled and there is no simple solution, as solving murders is not an easy thing to do.

Benjamin said with the current trajectory, he hopes that the murder toll at the end of the year does not reach or surpass 600 like in 2022, which ended with 601 murders. So far this year, there have been 565 murders, compared to 533 last year. He said with last month’s toll, officers are motivated to continue their work to drive the toll further down.

Meanwhile, Opposition MP Moonilal encouraged the police to continue the work they are doing but cautioned against celebrating too soon.

“I don’t think that this is any news that we can lower our guard or take any great celebration in welcoming such news. I mean I don’t think we should be popping champagne bottles at this time because the situation is dastardly, and it is extremely morbid outside.”

Society has “fallen into chaos” Moonilal said, adding that it will be unwelcome news if the murder toll reaches 600 this year. Moonilal said he hopes that with extra effort by the police and other national security agencies this month, the country can “skate below that mark.”

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