IN a bid to combat the escalating crime rate in TT, Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher has announced that the police service is considering the use of ankle bracelets for individuals granted bail for firearm possession and violent crimes as a potential solution. However, it requires legislative backing, she said.
This comes as the public called on Harewood-Christopher to break her silence as the murder toll surpassed 300 last week, causing widespread concern. She assured TT the police will not fail.
The CoP's proposal aims to address the deficiencies in evidence availability and detection rates, as well as the need for innovative legislative interventions.
As of Saturday afternoon, the country had 314 murders for the year.
In a pre-recorded address sent to the media late Friday night, Harewood-Christopher revealed the police service is considering the use of monitoring devices, as a potential tool to address the issue of repeat offenders.
However, former commissioner of police Gary Griffith, TT Police Service Social and Welfare Association head Gideon Dickson and UNC MP Roodal Moonilal have mixed views on whether or not this plan can make a dent in the crime situation.
The CoP said, “This state of affairs warrants the consideration of innovative and unprecedented legislative interventions to deal with firearm possession and violent crime. The hardened modern criminal culture does not encourage offenders to come to their conscience, resulting in a situation where fewer confessions are coming out of investigations.
“This state of affairs warrants the consideration of innovative and unprecedented legislative interventions to deal with firearm possession and violent crime. Perhaps it is time to consider outfitting persons granted bail for firearm possession and violent crime with an electronic monitoring device to assist the police in treating with the problem of repeat offenders."
These devices would assist the police in tracking the movements of these individuals and curb their involvement in criminal activities.
As Harewood-Christopher acknowledged the concerns of the public, she highlighted the need for innovative solutions.
From January to June, TT recorded 286 murders, including 23 double and four triple homicides. While gang activity remains the greatest contributor to these crimes, followed by drugs, it was noted that more than 50 per cent of the murders occurred in the north-eastern, north central, north, and eastern divisions. Firearms continue to be the weapon of choice in these homicides, with a rate of 88 per cent for 2023, compared to 72 per cent in 2020.
“The population, various stakeholders, the media and the business community have all been watching with concern the daily murder toll that continues to move steadily upwards earlier this week. The murder toll reached 300 and our national consciousness was jolted as we reach this dreaded milestone. In a sense, we all share the collective disappointment that this is how violent our society has become.
Her address als
