FRUSTRATED by the granting of bail to criminals who are returned to the streets to commit more crimes, a senior police officer said TT's justice system is being made into a mockery.

In an interview with the Newsday on Wednesday, Snr Supt of the Southern Division Richard Smith said, “I think they are that they are making a mockery of the justice system, because we are in fact arresting persons on a regular basis, daily, weekly, monthly.

"People are going before the courts, getting bail, coming back out and committing ten more crimes before they are rearrested, go inside, get bail and come back out again.

“It is a cycle. It is quite sad because we are out there day and night trying to keep the place safe, but from the time there is any violent interaction with the police and it turns out bad for the other side, the police is viewed in a negative light.

“When these criminals commit any crime, nobody sees anything. Nobody is willing to turn over any video or any footage to us.

“On the other hand, whenever the police does something, everybody sees and everybody have a video to put on social media, showing the police in a negative light.

“We have to fight for our country. Too much rubbish is going on,” Smith said.

His comments followed an incident in which a Penal Rock Road business family was beaten and robbed by four bandits during a home invasion on Tuesday morning.

[caption id="attachment_1032801" align="alignnone" width="576"] Snr Supt Richard Smith[/caption]

In the aftermath of the incident, residents told the Newsday they were scared for their lives.

The trauma for the family began sometime around 3 am while the family slept.

Rudely awakened by the armed bandits, members of the family were beaten and subsequently tied up as the bandits ransacked their home. They later sought medical attention.

After stealing cash, jewellery and other items, the bandits escaped with the family’s white Ford Ranger and a white Nissan Sylphy.

After the bandits left, a family member was able to alert the police and a chase ensued, resulting in the arrest of two occupants in the Sylphy who crashed  near a health centre.

The other two escaped in the Ford Ranger.

The family did not answer their phones when contacted, but a resident who spoke to the Newsday on the basis of anonymity said it was not the first incident of its kind in the area.

The resident related an incident where a man returned to his home after picking up his niece and nephew and found his front door locked from the inside. The homeowner said although he had  cameras and dogs to protect his property, the bandits were able to break in and steal his valuables.

In a second incident, a roti maker who left her home to attend the funeral of a relative returned to find her house cleaned out.

In June, Gabre Mahabir, 27, of Aster Street, Penal Rock Road, was at home with his wife and their four-year-old daughter when gunmen attacked. He was taken into a bedroom where he was tied and shot dead. The bandits escaped with jewellery, cash and cell