Although nine people were killed during the Carnival period, police say none of them took place during Carnival related activities and with 46 serious crimes reported for the period nationwide, the Ministry of National Security is thanking the public for assisting them in decreasing the figure from previous years. In a full page advertisement, the ministry said the country recorded 46 serious crimes for the Carnival period compared to 109 last year and 122 the year before.
“Law abiding citizens working with law enforcement officers equates to 100 per cent unbeatable success against criminals” the ad stated. The lowest reports were in Eastern and Northern Divisions which recorded one serious crime in each policing district, with Tobago and Central each recording two serious crimes.
For the same police zone, Eastern Division recorded 16 serious crimes last year and five the year before, while Northern had 21 last year and 20 the previous year. Tobago maintained its low rate last year, also recording two serious crimes and three the previous year ,while Central Division had nine last year and 21 the year before that.
The ministry attributed this success to “proper law enforcement policies and strategies as well as the professionalism and dedication of law enforcement officers, the perception and fear of crime was reduced”, adding that ‘ teamwork between the officers and citizens gave Trinidad and Tobago its safest Carnival ever in 2014.”
Most of serious crimes took place in Port-of-Spain which had 16 this year, 17 last year and 36 the year before. Serious crimes include but are not limited to wounding, burglary, robbery with or without violence, sexual assault and possession of dangerous weapons.