Bomb-detection K-9 police dogs are being added to security systems at the ports of Port- of- Spain and Scarborough, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon confirmed yesterday.
Dillon said the “K-9s” will start operating in the first instance at the Port-of-Spain port, inspecting passengers and vehicles before these are allowed to board the inter-island ferries. The measure will soon extend to Tobago’s Port.
Dillon was replying in the Senate to Opposition queries on recent reports of a bomb threat at the Scarborough port.
Police are investigating that threat. In the interim, he added security agencies recently met with the Tobago House of Assembly concerning security for the sister isle. This includes use of Canine Unit dogs at the ports in T&T.
“They’re bomb detection as well as narcotics detection dogs,” Dillon added, “The Assistant Commissioner (Crime) also assigned additional manpower to Tobago to treat with security issues. This included all of the port.”
He said Canine dogs will begin working at the Port-of-Spain port first — at an early upcoming date— since the dogs are here in Trinidad.
The measure will start in Tobago after the THA locates kennels for the dogs, “Once this is done, the dogs will be assigned to Tobago. Construction of new police stations in Tobago will include kennels for the dogs,” the minister added.
Dillon also told the Opposition, the ministry is supporting use of non-lethal weapons for police - a measure which could be in force by the 2018 fiscal year.
He said the Commissioner of Police advised that the Police Service is revisiting its “Use of Force” policy to include non-lethal weapons.
He added that the commissioner said he’s prepared to budget for non lethal weapons in the 2018 fiscal year and deal with procurement.
Dillon added, “When you examine countries globally concerning use of force, there’s a natural progression, starting with non-lethal weapons before you get to lethal weapons. So the ministry is prepared to support it based on the CoP’s recommendations.”
“I can’t give you a timeline, but based on what the CoP said— of preparing for fiscal 2018— I expect it would be done in preparation for that timeline.”
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