By NALINEE SEELAL Monday, September 6 2010

click on pic to zoom in

THERE are plans to call more than 400 retired members of the protective services back out to service to assist in the fight against crime. This is the latest development in the Government’s anti crime initiative. The retirees will be assigned to police stations in “hot spot” crime areas to augment the strength at those stations.

The officers will serve as clerical support staff and will also take reports from members of the public and assist in fingerprinting duties. This will free up officers in the charge room for foot and mobile patrols, and increase their visibility in areas where crime is a major problem.

This initiative is the brainchild of Minister of National Security Brigadier John Sandy and has won the approval of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who believes it will go a long way in dealing with the scourge of crime.

The Police Service is supposed to have a strength of 7715, but due to a manpower shortage, is currently operating with about 5,000 officers.

The Ministry of National Security’s office of law enforcement policy will be conducting interviews shortly, and retired officers from the Police Service, Prisons Service and Defence Force should be installed at police stations before the end of the year to function as special reserve police officers.

Yesterday Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams said, “The persons to be hired will be called administrative liaison officers, and these 400 officers will be placed in stations where there is a greater demand for policing, mainly “hot spot” areas.”

He described the move by the Government, as “a welcome intervention because it will allow us to have more officers on the beat so that we could more effectively serve the citizenry”.

Newsday understands that recruitment should take place in a week’s time.

Yesterday, President of the Police Social and Welfare Association Sergeant Anand Ramesar said any initiative to assist in the fight against crime is welcomed.

However, he added, “We have a lot of concerns regarding this recruitment, and sometime ago I voiced my concerns to the Minister of National Security. I have been awaiting a feedback with respect to what are the qualities, knowledge and skills associated with the recruitment of those people.

“I have accepted an invitation to have two members of my executive sit on the interview panel during part of the selection process for these persons. However to date, we have not been advised as to when such interviews will commence and how many persons have applied . . . so we are still in the dark.”

Ramesar said the selection criteria should be able to identify persons who fell below the required performance level when they previously performed in their respective jobs, as well as those who are there for the extra money, and not because of their willingness to help reduce crime in this country.

He also wants to know how the arrangement will impact on the investigations and the evidential role that these officers may be required to play in prosecuting offenders.

Newsday understands that the Police Social and Welfare Association wants the Minister of National Security to ensure that the retirees recruited are under 60, which is the retirement age for SRP officers.

Government has already embarked on another initiative to recruit security guards to be eyes and ears so that crime scan be reported immediately to the police through a special network. This initiative is being coordinated by Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams.