The Police Service has a shortfall of one thousand officer even as it continues to grapple with spiralling crime, particularly murders, and weaning confidence from the public.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Harold Phillip, said yesterday that the service was operating with 6,800 officers and the sanction strength was 7,800. The Government has a proposal to hire 1,400 municipal police officers to augment the strength of the its crime fighting initiatives.
He was speaking at a news conference held by the Manpower Audit Committee at the Office of Law Enforcement Policy on London Street, Port-of-Spain. At any given time a significant number of officers are on vacation, sick leave and study leave.
No mention was made of the shortage in the police service being affected by absenteeism or by officers who are on extended personal leave.
Instead, committee members implied that hiring new officers may not necessarily be the answer to a better police service.
Prof Ramesh Deosaran, committee chairman, said the purpose of the manpower audit is to help determine whether the number of officers employed with the TTPS was adequate to carry out its operations.
Jacqueline Wilson, retired permanent secretary, another member of the committee, pointed out that “adequacy also means determining whether the police service has the right skills for the job and is performing the right services and how equipped it was in dealing with 21st Century policing”.
A 21st Century Policing Initiative was introduced by former commissioner of police, Canadian Dwayne Gibbs, in April 2011. Police divisional commanders where it was introduced reportedly scrapped the bulk of the plan. Gibbs resigned and returned to Canada before his contract ended.
Phillip said the committee was getting help for its work from the British government, something he was happy about.
Phillip is a member of the committee which established by the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on January 10. Its purpose was described as a “reformation mission” of the Police Service.
The committee met the media yesterday for the first time since it was formed to solicit help for several data gathering projects involving the public. Deosaran said the committee wanted the media’s help in getting public feedback on its concerns and recommendations for improving police performance, integrity, accountability and morale.
