The country stands just four murders away from the haunting milestone of 600 for the year, a toll that would mark a second in TT's history and deputy Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin says his troops will continue the fight to keep the number from surpassing 2022's figure of 605 – the all-time murder toll record.
According to senior police sources, the toll as at December 20 stands at 596. This means 39 more murders have been recorded this year as compared to last year at the same date, which stood at 557.
Benjamin spoke to Newsday by phone call on December 20 and said the the police were not happy with the current toll, but were not daunted by the task of fighting crime and criminal elements.
"I have met with all the divisional commanders and assistant commissioners, up to today, and we have looked at our operational plans for Christmas into Old Year's and the new-year period and we have put all the necessary things in place to have more police officers in the street."
Benjamin said the police will also have special operations in hotspot areas during this period.
"We will be targeting priority offenders and trying to disrupt and dismantle gang activities.
"We are hoping that we can slow down the crime situation so that it does not go pass the number from 2022."
Benjamin said the dynamic of crime changes daily, but the police will remain focused. He also urged the public to continue to support the police.
"Crime is everybody's business. We have had incremental successes when we had the co-operation from the public.
"Continue to work with us. We can change this crime situation, if we continue to work together."
Prior to Newsday's conversation with Benjamin, police conducted numerous road exercises and special operations throughout the country.
Insp Shawn Steele of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) spoke to Newsday at one of the operations in front of Riverside Plaza on December 20.
He said the joint operation was geared toward making the country safer as the holiday season approached.
"It is the first of many to come for Christmas and the new year.
[caption id="attachment_1127799" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Police, licensing officers and traffic wardens conduct a road block on St Joseph Road, Port of Spain, on December 20. -[/caption]
"There's various locations the exercise is taking place at this time. It's from the North Eastern division all the way through to the Port of Spain division."
Steele said over 250 police were deployed for the exercises which included – road traffic exercises, house searches, drug block searches and outstanding warrants.
Steele said everything ran smoothly.
Snr Supt Dave Spence of the IATF said no guns, ammunitions or drugs were found, however, two people were arrested for being disqualified from driving.
Murder rate back on the rise
The murder toll has surged once again, with nine murders being recorded between December 15 and 20.
On December 15, Ben Plaza, 35, of Bye Pass Road, Maturita Extension, Arima was gunned down around 9.25
