Tobago DCP: Customer service must be part of police culture

DEPUTY Commissioner of Police, Operations, Junior Benjamin says customer service must become part of the culture of the police service if it is to capitalise on its thrust towards intelligence-driven policing.

On the Tobago Updates morning show on July 16, Benjamin said an extensive customer-service initiative has already been launched within the police service to better engage members of the public.

“That is something that is ongoing where we are talking to persons that are not just police officers, but even the Task Force,” he said. “Everybody needs to understand customer service is important because it is about community partnership, which is an important pillar in the strategic plan of the police service. Therefore, that community engagement is important. It just cannot be something that you put on. It must be part and parcel of the culture of the police service because we all should be community policing officers.”

Benjamin said police stations must be accommodating

“It is time that we have some cupcakes when you come in. We have to show the police service as being one that is really here to serve.”

Saying the initiative is a work in progress, he added, “We believe we are getting there. We are not there as yet.

"However, we are going to see a change in that, because we are going to be very hard and fast in giving that quality service to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago so that persons could understand this is what the police is all about.”

Benjamin said the police wanted to see not just a reduction in crime but a reduction in the fear of crime.

"That is going to happen only when we try to start to treat people properly.

“We have to start to go into the communities. We have to start to befriend the people. We have to let people know that we care. And people don’t care how much you know unless they know how much you care.”

He believes if police officers are attentive when people come to a station, they will be willing to give information.

“That is an area we are working on. We are already having the necessary intelligence that is coming from our various units, and what we want is more effective intelligence to keep us on the ground and to direct us. We believe we are going in that direction and we are looking forward for an even better end of the year.”

As the country grapples with escalating crime, mainly through gun violence, Benjamin said citizens can expect to see more police on the streets.

“People can look forward to seeing more and more visibility. We are doing what we call a zero-tolerance approach to the situation. We are seeing that things are getting out of hand and we are saying we are going to stand up, we are going to respond.

“TT is calling for the police service to respond, and we are saying we will respond. And we are saying when we respond you are going to see more police officers out there. You are going to see more stop and search, more roadblocks.”

He said the roadblocks, though inconveniencing to some, would have an impact.

“We are going to be out there and we are going to be upholding the law. Persons that we see outside at certain times, you need to account for yourselves. We are going to take a zero-tolerance approach, and we are saying that it is needed now and we want the support of the public. We are saying that if you see something, say something.

We want to get to the bottom of it. Those guns are not just walking to those places. It is on persons. It is on vehicles. We are going to be out there.”

Benjamin said the Tobago Division, led by ACP Collis Hazel, has already increased patrols on the island.

“So far, Tobago is doing very good. When we look at the patrols, we are seeing an increase in patrols. What we are doing is not just to work harder but to work smarter and that is what we are going to be doing by doing intelligence-led, evidence-based policing.”

Benjamin said the police are confident they will get the upper hand on criminals.

“It is important for us to understand, this is not a situation that is strange to the TTPS. We have had situations where crime seemed to be very high and again, we were able to bring it down.”

He said the police executive is not troubled by the crime situation, but it is very concerned.

“We have put strategies in place. As the DCP, Operations, having been commanded by the commissioner, we have looked at the situation. I have called all of my divisional commanders and I am very pleased to say that Tobago Division, under the guidance of ACP Hazel and (Snr Supt Rodhill) Kirk have been doing a fantastic job in seeking to really create a level of stability in the midst of the turbulence that we are seeing.”

Tobago has recorded 16 murders for 2024 to date.