CoP on SoE detainees: Keep them inside

CoP Allister Guevarro briefs the media at Police Administration Building, Port of Spain, on November 4. - Photos by Angelo Marcelle

Commissioner of Police (CoP) Allister Guevarro says he “welcomes” the continued detention of the 98 people held under preventative detention orders (PDOs) and said they will remain in custody as long as the state of emergency (SoE) continues.

The SoE was declared on July 18 and twice extended for a three-month period on July 28 and October 31.

Any further extension will require a three-fifths majority support in Parliament.

At a media briefing on November 4, Guevarro said the TT Police Service (TTPS) has 156 preventative detention orders but only 98 have been executed thus far, with 56 people still on the run.

He said 13 of the people held on PDOs were already incarcerated prior to the SoE, and noted the reduction in crime since the others were detained.

“We have a 42 per cent decrease in homicides, 19 per cent decrease in violent crimes, 11 per cent decrease in other serious-related crimes and 28 per cent in larceny of motor vehicles.

“Woundings and shootings are down from 1,508 last year to 980 this year. Sexual offences, kidnappings, robberies, home breaking offences, and general larceny are also down.”

A police officer and prison officer are among the detainees.

The CoP said the PDOs are in effect from the moment they are executed until the end of the SOE, but acknowledged the detainees will have to be released eventually.

“It is not to say it's a blank cheque. At some point in time it will end and the PDO will expire.”

Pressed as to whether there is any legal limit as to how long the detainees can be held, he directed those questions to “the lawmakers,” but added in the meantime, he welcomes their detention.

“As the CoP I would welcome that. Keep them inside!

"You are seeing the reduction in crime and I hope TT is also seeing that these men have been (in jail) and are having a significant impact on the crime that was occurring in the country.”

Asked why the people held under a PDO had not been charged to ensure they remain in custody after the SoE ends, Guevarro said this was not the purpose of a PDO.

“It is an order to prevent someone from doing something that is inimical to public safety. It doesn't mean that they committed a crime.”

“It means that there was sufficient evidence to grant a PDO to place this person in detention for the purpose of preventing them from doing something.

Asked if he expects an increase in crime when the detainees are released, Guevarro said he anticipated the efforts made during the SoE will continue after it ends.

“We are hoping that our strategic inputs have enough time to take root so we would be able to better monitor and treat with the situation outside of the SoE.”

PM: Detainees have access to justice

Meanwhile, during an interview in Tobago on November 4, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said her government was working "within the Constitution of TT" during the SoE.

She said those detained were not locked away and left without a remedy.

"Your rights have remained," she said. "You can apply (to a tribunal). There is a tribunal in law that you can go to....You have access to justice from within the laws of the detention centres. You can go to the tribunal and if that fails you can go to the court."

Meanwhile, DCP Suzette Martin revealed more than 2,000 people had been charged with various crimes since the SoE began.

“We had 3,538 arrests thus far… and 2136 persons have been charged.”

Guevarro added the SoE was just one of several tools at the police’s disposal to address crime.

“We have other weapons in the arsenal that we already utilise, so it works in tandem to help us maintain the figures.

“But outside the SoE we are still able to do policing and our operations within the limits that the law prescribes at that time.”

He defended the use of the SoE to fight crime, defiantly saying police intend to use all the powers they have under the SoE “to the max” to protect TT.

DCP Suzette Martin, left, Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro, centre, and Public Information Officer Michelle Lewis, speak to the media at Police Administration Building, Port of Spain on November 4.

“If the government had called a SoE and the police sat down and did nothing, what do you think would happen?

“But with the SoE, and with the hard work of members of law enforcement, the TT Defence Force and intelligence agencies are working in tandem with each other in order to create a safe environment for TT.”

The CoP also warned the public needs to work with the police if the reduction in crime is to be sustained.

“Your silence equals crime. When you remain silent and you see your neighbour with the gun, or you know your neighbour ain't working anywhere but you seeing him driving the rental vehicle on a weekend, and you know he committing robberies and stealing people cars and you eh say anything, eventually, it will come back home.

“It will come home to roost one day, and then you become a victim of crime because you remained silent.”