Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Speaker A: The best insight, instant feedback, accountability. The all new Talk Radio Freedom 106.5.
[00:00:08] Speaker B: Stephen Williams and consultant back then to Commissioner of Police Earla Heywood. Christopher back in 2024. Good morning to you, sir. Welcome to the program.
[00:00:18] Speaker A: Good morning.
[00:00:19] Speaker B: Good morning. Good to have you. I see like that iPhone giving you some problems.
Well, that's why he's a Samsung guy. When you get your Samsung in a gear. All right, so as we get set, we have very limited time with you this morning. Let's talk a little bit about some of the crime tactics done in the aid to curbing crime here in Trinidad and Tobago.
[00:00:39] Speaker A: Well, actually introducing me as the consultant former government.
[00:00:47] Speaker B: Well, that was the last designate we had for you. Okay.
Correct.
[00:00:52] Speaker A: Actually it was published in the newspaper. I saw the correct with the media very small part paper which most people never saw.
So that information is out there.
[00:01:09] Speaker B: Thank you very much. I appreciate that we needed to get some clarity because that's the last designate we had for you on that issue. All right, so moving forward, let's talk about some of the crime tactics done that you are aware of in terms of aiding curbing this crime situation in Trinidad.
[00:01:24] Speaker A: Well, I speak to what I observed sandrabago had was published by production on paper.
I think the challenge had to do with execution.
And I think the biggest challenge is today and has faced over time.
And when I am thinking about that discipline of getting done that what has in fact.
[00:02:14] Speaker B: All right, we kind of get bits and pieces. I don't know if you want to relocate very quickly from the area anyhow that you are. But under your tenure or during your tenure, what was some of the situations or major acts of crime that was deemed a priority to you?
[00:02:31] Speaker A: Well, the San Diego Police service changes entirely patrol strategy.
What we did is that we introduced evidence basically into the organization and we focus on policing hotspots as defined by the criminologists.
Those hotspots were geofence and did GPS tracking up our vehicles.
The officers were out there. We knew how much time they spent at each location and it was a heavy preventative strategy.
Out of that we realized 2013, 26.3% reduction in serious crime and that amounted to 4,694 less crimes in 2013 than 2012, the largest reduction in the history of the country.
To achieve that government did support.
They provided us with excess of 300 vehicles and that allowed us to fulfill the obligations in the you know, when.
[00:03:51] Speaker B: We look at the officers on the ground, the I mean is about 8,000 strong more or less that the figures we kind of have in terms of how many officers. And then out of that you have those on sick leave, injury leave, those that are studying abroad and those would have gone over to the legal side of things. Prosecutors at the courts and different things. Do you think that we have enough TTPS members to tackle the crime situation in the country?
[00:04:20] Speaker A: Well, with TTPS members there is just close to 6,000.
So the organization is short from a sanction strength. Sanction strength is around 7884 and therefore the last government administered that they recruit over the fiscal 20241000 officers. They didn't fulfill that mandate.
[00:04:52] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:04:53] Speaker A: But just to see if Organization operates with 7,884 officers supported by the reserve, I think it'll be adequate.
[00:05:06] Speaker B: Now this seven, the 6,000 that you're talking about is this, does this have to do with the. The special reserve officers as well? Are they part of that 6,000 strong?
[00:05:16] Speaker A: No, that.
[00:05:17] Speaker B: Yes, that's TTPS. So in terms of the reserves, are the reserves not used and absorbed in as part of the officers used for fighting crime?
[00:05:27] Speaker A: Right. The reserve is support to the regular service. That's why if the organ has sanctions of 7,884 plus that will sufficient assets to effectively manage policing.
[00:05:49] Speaker B: Noted.
Your thoughts when it comes to weeding out rogue elements within the police service. I forgot to mention that part as well because when you look at the. The 6,000 strong, 6,800 as you mentioned somewhere thereabouts, those figures. Approximately. Yeah, 6,000, 6,000. You have some of them.
[00:06:09] Speaker A: Is approved.
They are sought by.
[00:06:13] Speaker B: Oh, 7,000 is what approved. I kind of. We kind of get in your bits and pieces, but we're hearing you more or less when it comes across to weeding out rogue elements within the police service, how difficult of a job or task was that? Is it an easy job to do?
[00:06:29] Speaker A: Well, it is not because there is clear provisions in the door as how you could remove an officer. Whether it's a police officer, public officer, it's tough business.
So you have to take a deliberate approach, follow the rules as they prescribe and then you.
Officer.
[00:06:54] Speaker B: All right, noted. With that we know we press for time, but I have to ask you, I have at least two more questions. I want to get quickly out of the way. Recently I saw there was a video circulating on social media where licensed officers in their routine road exercise placed a driver under arrest as a police officer or former acting commissioner of police. You would have had a number of years in the field. Do these licensed officers have the powers to arrest motorists if they stop them and something illegal, I don't know for what reason. Maybe driving without a permit, can they arrest persons? Or is this the sole responsibility of police officers?
[00:07:33] Speaker A: That still questionable because in interpreting the law some people interpret it as licensed officers do in fact authority in the contrary.
However, historically in operating out there, the licensing officers always operated together with those challenges.
[00:08:04] Speaker B: But they don't have the powers more or less because I haven't gotten a clear answer.
I want to be clear because it happened and citizens were talking about it. So I wanted to be clear from a learned person on this issue. And you seem to be the most fitting person at this time. I can ask the question as you held that seat at the top of the police can licensed officers arrest you?
[00:08:29] Speaker A: And that point, I mean in my view, no great.
[00:08:32] Speaker B: They are just public servants. Your thoughts on the current Homeland Security minister and his policy, his policing history. Are you confident that he can make a dent in crime?
[00:08:42] Speaker A: Remember the Homeland Security Office Soli he will bring to bear on that office his policing and he has to build a new rule that as a matter which more policy direction against operational policing. I have confidence that he can fill that role and his heart in the role. So therefore I am optimistic and I.
[00:09:17] Speaker B: Wish him and I thank you very much for your thoughts on that. Let's finally ask you on the detection rate that has been deemed low for a number of years. Your thoughts on how we can change that? I mean, sometimes when you're outside the game looking in your city play better than when you're in the game and that's a factor. You watch football all the time, men quarreling on the stands, cricket. But when you're outside your city plays inside, you may not see it. So any thoughts on what can be done to change to improve the detection rate of crime in this country?
[00:09:45] Speaker A: Well, reference for looking in the police requires the support of the very set up anywhere any jurisdiction. It is not dependent on work of the police. It is dependent on the support of the citizen. So there is a twofold issue.
Police service has to improve its policing and the citizens have cooperate with the police because without sharing information you would not be able to fulfill that.
[00:10:25] Speaker B: All right, thank you very much Mr. Steven Williams for chatting with us this morning. We thoroughly appreciate the information and look forward to talking to you in the not too distant future as we see this new government unfold with their policies and plans to make sure that citizens are safe just like your good self and we remain safe and find a sense of security in Trinidad and Tobago. Thank you so much again and have yourself a great day, sir. You're welcome.
[00:10:46] Speaker A: The best insight, instant feedback, accountability. The all new Talk Radio Freedom 106.5.
