With the murder count now over 400 a strategic security expert is advising the Deputy Commissioner of Police to start utilising tactics that can deliver and make a difference. Commander Garvin Heerah, who was also the former head of the National Operations Centre, said more has to be done to tackle rising crime in the country.
According to Heerah the increased manpower that the DCP in charge has advocated and instructed is a good step in the right direction but noted that it is not only about increasing manpower but, “it is working smart. Utilising a technologically driven approach to policing with an anti-crime intent. What are the objectives? What are the areas of interest based on trends, volume and crime stats?” Heerah added.
He said there is a need to revisit the Joint Intelligence Group (JIG) “and make it mandatory for a focused and surgical intelligence-led approach to the Operations. What resources/ assets are in place to address the effort? Who is in charge.”
Heerah also went on to list some of the approaches necessary including the setting up of a 24/07 Command Centre. He said this would also include instituting an Alert State in the TTPS. Heerah added there would be a need to give the Operation a strong and meaningful title, utilise and re-vamp the National Grid as per hot zones and key high crime areas.
He explained that by using the National Grid it would create and strategise the implementation of choke points since 99 per cent of the perpetrators of crime use the roads to get to a crime or to escape from a crime scene. Heerah added by using and utilising the National Grid ( via the CCTV architecture) the TTPS, aided and supported by the TTDF, can create and execute good choke points to shut down criminal activity. The former head of the NOC also suggested that citizens be encouraged to escalate their vigilance and practice a security-conscious culture. Heerah said: “The same way you are masking up and adhering to (COVID) protocols because your life depends on it, see the crime wave as a pandemic also, and practice safety and security to save your life and the lives of others.”
