Police at 'boiling point' over courts in stations

Besson Street Police Station in Port of Spain. Rooms once used for investigations and ID parades are being used a virtual courtrooms, Justice Minister Devesh Maharaj said on August 18. -

Rooms once used for investigations and ID parades at police stations have been converted into virtual courtrooms, leaving police officers severely inconvenienced and crippling police work.

“When we visited to understand the question of virtual courtrooms, we saw first-hand that the police are totally discommoded...It is close to boiling point,” Justice Minister Devesh Maharaj said after a walk-through at the Besson Street Police Station, Port of Spain, on August 18.

With him were Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander and the permanent secretaries of both ministries.

"The ID parade room, which is used by the police, of course for identification by victims of crime, is totally unusable because it's been converted to a VC.

"It’s highly irregular and very inconvenient,” Maharaj said.

In May, Alexander raised concerns over the continued use of police stations as courts. He said the use of police stations as courts needed to be addressed immediately, as police officers were “already cramped for space.”

“Courts at the station… don’t see this being at any advantage to us or TT at all,” he said.

In response, the Judiciary said the policy was designed to ensure efficiency and early access to justice, not to burden police. The Judiciary stressed that accused persons appear virtually on the day they are charged, but subsequent hearings are held from prisons, virtual access customer centres, or courtrooms.

“This arrangement does not convert police stations into courtrooms,” the Judiciary said at the time. “It simply places the accused before a judicial officer via computer. Virtual hearings have reduced delays and costs to the public purse, while making it easier for judges, attorneys and witnesses — even those overseas — to participate.”

The Judiciary noted that the system was adopted after the police service indicated it could no longer provide manpower for every court, except when prisoners are in the dock. It added that feedback from court users has been positive and that reverting to in-person hearings for all appearances would cause “a lower and slower level of activity.”

On June 6, the Judiciary also hosted Attorney General John Jeremie, Maharaj, and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Darrell Allahar and said the delegation agreed to pursue solutions with other ministries, the TTPS and the Bar to balance police operational needs with access to justice.

According to Maharaj, Monday’s visit is one of many on the cards this week to better understand the problem and arrive at quick, short-term solutions.

And, we think we have found a solution, but we won't disclose it just yet because we have some visits to make to the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court to see if we can facilitate what we are thinking about.

“But it's highly inconvenient for the officers. We have seen it first-hand. At least four or five rooms are totally discommoded.

“The ID parade room, which is used by the police, of course, by victims of crime, is totally unusable because it has been converted to a virtual courtroom.

“It's highly irregular.”

He said the Besson Street station was a catchment for at least 15 police stations, and on Monday, it was “pretty busy…with a lot of people coming and going,” so it gave the ministerial team a first-hand opportunity to view the challenges.

“We all came to make sure we can have something done quickly because the police are close to boiling point.”

Maharaj confirmed that the ministerial team will visit other sites to explore moving proceedings back into purpose-built facilities this week.

Inspector Joel Braithwaite, officer in charge of the Besson Street station, echoed the ministers’ concerns, saying the lack of space has affected daily policing. “You cannot really receive justice if you are facing courts in the very same place you were arrested, interrogated and detained. There is no real perception of justice,” he said. “Rooms that were once used for interviews and ID parades have been repurposed. Now we have no proper facilities.”

Braithwaite added that the strain is worsened by demand from surrounding divisions. “This station services three divisions, and all prisoners must use one computer for virtual hearings,” he said. “Where previously we could have 10 courts in a day, now only one case at a time can be heard. Matters often run very late.”

Braithwaite said the use of police stations as courts came about during the covid19 pandemic.

“There is a recommendation on the table at this time to do a site visit at the magistrates' court to determine what exactly is needed to get that building back to being fully functional. As far as we are aware, the magistrates' court has been refurbished and is ready for use.

“And, it's just sitting there empty right now.”

Braithwaite said the Besson Street station serves the North Eastern, Western and Port of Spain Divisions and “all “those prisoners come to Besson Street and have to use one computer.

“One computer for that virtual court.”

The team is expected to visit the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court on August 20.