THE State intends to make it more difficult for extortion suspects to get bail.

Minister in the Ministry of National Security Keith Scotland vowed to crack down on the offence as he toured Central and South Trinidad on November 8.

Speaking with the media outside the Chaguanas police station, Scotland said he was aware of the extortion issues facing business owners nationwide.

He added police intelligence indicated Central Trinidad, particularly Chaguanas, had been greatly affected by extortion.

Chaguanas businessmen, with the support of the Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce, have been very vocal about the challenges they face regarding the issue.

Scotland said the high incidence of extortion across Trinidad and Tobago is the reason the police established a specialist unit but added without official reports, there is little the police can do.

“If you don't inform us, how can we eradicate it? If you sit in silence, it will just bear itself out. It will increase and the people will get bolder and bolder. But the fact that we have established a unit means that we are very serious about dealing with that situation.”

Head of the unit ACP Richard Smith said the unit has already received 29 reports and has charged a man for 22 offences arising from the reports.

He urged victims to come forward, saying, “If the reports are not made, we cannot imagine what are in people's minds. So we need to get the reports. That's the reason we formed the unit.

“We have a hotline, which is 797-3150, which we expect people to use,” Smith added.

The term extortion is not on TT law books and is instead referred to as demanding by menace. Scotland noted the maximum penalty if convicted of the offence is 15 years imprisonment. He said the state intends to encourage police prosecutors to “be more robust in their submissions” when suspects are brought before the court.

“We intend to insist and make submissions before the judicial officers. Our voices will be heard at the first end, which is bail applications. Those who are recidivists, we will be having a strong view on that and making sure that it's presented to the district judge or the master.”

He added while the decisions on bail and sentencing are up to the courts, the state will have its say.

“If found guilty, we will be insisting that the police complainants and prosecutors share the views of the complainants and the victims in these matters because when last have you heard someone get (sentenced to) 15 years for demanding by menace?”

“As it relates to sentencing, if you're convicted, we will be advocating that the concentration will be on the punitive and the deterrent. And that will be our main focus.”

Scotland said he hopes by the end of November, an expert will be engaged to train the police prosecutors.

“We want to advise a stronger advocacy in that regard (and) we want training to facilitate stronger advocacy.”

Scotland believes there is no need for legislative intervention, adding, “What we have is sufficient once it is utilised properly and efficient