More Municipal police to keep Sando carnival safe

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The T&T Police Service (TTPS) and the T&T Municipal Police Service (TTMPS) will be out in full force in San Fernando for Carnival to ensure the safety and security of members of the public.

The assurance came from high ranking police officers, Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein and San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello during a meeting to announce security measures which were implemented for Carnival.

Speaking at Library Corner in San Fernando yesterday, Hosein said with the increase in the strength of municipal police officers at the 14 Corporations the officers’ responsibilities and duties have now been expanded.

He recalled that when he came into office there were 216 municipal officers and that number has now grown to over 600 and it will continue to increase as each corporation will now have 100 officers, except for Port-of-Spain which will have 200.

He is hoping that this will be achieved in the next six months.

“We are going around the country and we are taking a softer approach to policing. We are supporting the TTPS.”

Hosein said the municipal officers are doing stop and search exercises and drugs busts in and around the markets.

However, the minister said he wants the officers to engage in more foot patrols and visit the schools.

“We are going to up our game at the TTMPS level.”

Hosein also encouraged people who would be visiting the beaches, river or camping for Carnival to inform the Corporation so that they could dispatch police patrols to ensure their safety. He advised the officers to gain the confidence of the public by meeting the churches, NGOs and other groups and to treat members of the public with kindness.

Regrello said they have implemented a new policy for Carnival where the use of loud music by Carnival bands will be strictly prohibited when passing near the San Fernando General Hospital. He said the officers will also be out in full force to ensure proper crowd control.

“Snr Supt Cecil Santana (of the TTMPS) has assured me that there will be a greater level of police officers in San Fernando as persons participate in Carnival or traverse other areas.”

TTMPS ACP Brian Headley said there will be a heavy presence of officers on the streets to ensure members of the public have a very safe and peaceful Carnival.