CRIMINOLOGIST Darius Figuera says a decision to choose criminal gangs to ensure their safety suggests that the population has lost confidence in the ability of the police to do so.

He made the comment on July 25 as he reflected on statements made by residents of St Paul Street, Port of Spain, to Newsday on July 24.

In a statement, Figuera said, "Some will question the representativeness of those interviewed of the opinions of all residents of St Paul Street, East Port of Spain. But this is evading opinions expressed because of its position of criticism of the TTPS (TT Police Service) and the way it polices the residents of the area."

The testimony of these residents, he said, showed there were two orders of power they had to traverse daily to ensure their safety, livelihoods and happiness.

"These are the legal order of the TTPS, and that of gangland, and persons interviewed insist that the order of gangland is more amenable to daily survival than that of the TTPS. When faced with a choice of extremes the go-to choice is gangland, as it is superior."

Figuera said that suggested the police had "lost the hearts and minds of the population on the ground as it alienates the masses from embracing it."

He added that it strengthened the power of criminal gangs.

"The issue, then, is action which flouts with impunity the rights of the citizens from an institution organic to the rule of law. Action which in no way has the capacity or capability to dismantle the illegal order of power on the ground."

Figuera said if the police offered people no hope of change for the better, it enabled gangs to socialise people in an area to facilitate their agenda.

"The TTPS is enhancing the power of gangland on the ground, not limiting it, much less dismantling (it)."

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