Police to revisit bail book procedure

POLICE are looking at making changes to the way offenders sign in the bail book at police stations in the aftermath of an attempt on the life of a former alleged gang leader.

DCP Junior Benjamin said this during an interview on the crime show Beyond the Tape on TV6 on the evening of January 7.

“We continue to look at the situation. We have to examine it. We (are) again going to probably look at, you know, in terms of those who are coming in, the type of risk that they pose, and ensure that, again...they have the necessary security measures in place.”

On December 28, a former alleged gang leader was attacked by gunmen while trying to sign the bail book at the Besson Street Police Station.

In some cases, the presiding judicial officer may as a condition of granting bail, order an accused person to visit the police station in their home community on specific days of the week or month to sign the bail book. Failure to do so may mean revocation of the bail.

Gunmen lay in wait with automatic rifles in a panel van parked opposite the station on December 28. When the man who is out on bail left the station, accompanied by a group of men, the gunmen opened fire on them.

While the intended target escaped, a 34-year-old man later identified as Trevor Williams of Clifton Towers was shot dead.

A day later, five people were gunned down in a parlour in Laventille, in what police believe was in retaliation for the shooting outside the Besson Street police station.

A state of emergency was then called on December 30, after Government received information of a planned upsurge in gang violence and shootings.