We can reduce crime within communities

It is the responsibility of every one living in communities to make an extra effort to reduce the murder rate and violent acts in TT says musician Roy Cape.

Speaking yesterday at the police briefing held at Administration Building, Port of Spain, Cape said the elders in communities must do whatever it took to make a difference.

“We need to make whatever effort we can to take down the murder rate amongst the youth in this country. We can do it because we are elder than the guys who are performing these acts.”

Cape presented the Oropune Police Youth Club with two musical instruments.

Meanwhile, ASP Wayne Mystar called on members of the public to desist from obstructing police officers in the execution of their duties.

Mystar said, on a daily basis, officers were faced with situations when they tried to enforce the law and were being accosted by people preventing them from performing their duties properly.

He said, according to the TTPS Act, people could be charged and face imprisonment for obstructing police.

“If you looking on at the situation and you are exciting persons to resist arrest and try to escape lawful custody, you are also committing an offence. Please desist from doing same. Obstructing police officers from carrying out their duties is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $10,000 with imprisonment for two years.

“It further goes on to say in section 60 of the TTPS Act that if a person is called upon to assist a police officer while in the execution of their duties and the person resists, that is also an offence.”

Mystar encouraged visitors to TT to carry some form of identification and travel in authorised public transportation.

He also called on citizens who were participating in camping activities during the Carnival season to visit the nearest police station in their district to register the camp.

“Carnival is upon us and a lot of agencies and organisations, they may not be taking part of the Carnival but attending various camps, we are asking people from an early stage to please go to the closest police station district where you are having your camps.

“There are campus registration forms that you need to full out which will give police officers basic information, so we as officers can pass and check up on you during the period of your camping.”

Mystar said, during the Carnival season, children were often left unsupervised and urged parents to put the necessary measures in place to ensure children under the age of 18 were well secured.