[UPDATED] Crime Stoppers doubles gun rewards for remainder of SoE

CRIME STOPPERS Trinidad and Tobago has doubled its reward for tips leading to gun seizures for the remainder of the state of emergency (SoE).

The rewards have risen to $4,000 for every handgun recovered, $5,000 for a shotgun and $7,000 for automatic rifles.

At a media conference on March 27 at the Sackville Street, Port of Spain, Police Administration Building, Crime Stoppers director Darrin Carmichael warned "silence is deadly" as he urged the public to do their part.

“We are at a point where gun crime and gun violence is disrupting and affecting families, communities, business and the country as a whole in a very serious way."

He noted previous successes of Crime Stoppers as he said the process has always been safe and secure. “In the last 25 years… we removed 462 firearms off the streets of Trinidad and Tobago.

“If you're talking about statistics, think about $300 million worth of narcotics being removed, think about $98 million worth of stolen property recovered.”

He explained the process and said the organisation ensures anonymity within its operations.

“When people call we have no way to track them. We cannot see their number, and we tell them do not tell us their name or the area they live. They are assigned a tip ID number and that is all we have.

“We tell them call back in 21 days, and if their tip led to a seizure or arrest, we ask them which Scotiabank branch they want to collect their money at. When they go to the branch, they just ask for the manager, give them the tip ID number and collect an envelope with cash. No ID is required.”

Acting Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin said with shootings accounting for almost 75 per cent of this year’s murders, it is important that guns be taken off the streets.

“There have been 94 murders this year and that is 94 too many. At least 69 of these murders were done with the use of firearms.” Statistics also showed more than 25 per cent of the victims were younger than 24.

“To me that is a significant statistic because we recognise the weapon of choice used in these homicides is the firearm.

“Therefore this gun removal programme is very critical and pertinent for us as we seek to reduce the crime situation.”

The SoE was declared on December 30 and ends on April 13.

Benjamin said police have seized 165 guns so far during the SoE and he hopes the campaign will lead to at least 100 more seizures before the SoE ends.

Carmichael suggested the imminent end of the SoE, coupled with a recognition that more needs to be done, has fuelled a need for urgency.

“(Police) have done all that they could have done during the period of the SoE and they need help now to get that extra push to get the guns where they are, right?

“They've had tremendous success in finding caches of weapons and ammunition. We know that things are being done and they're being done steadily.”

He praised the police's Special Operations Unit for acting swiftly on tips received via Crime Stoppers.

Carmichael noted the unit has been able to respond quickly, in part, because of the SoE regulations.

“No longer are we waiting too much, because under the SOE, it facilitates that kind of quick action.

“That is why the intentional ask today is that you give us the information you have so we can act on it effectively.”

“Some of you have asked, ‘What else can be done? What more can be done?’ Crime is still happening. Murders are still taking place. Therefore we are saying people with information about crimes need to come forward.”

“The public has the information. You possess what I call human intelligence. You know where the guns are, where it passes, where it's hiding out and so on.”

The programme has been endorsed by soca star Machel Montano who has already voiced an advertisement for the campaign.

Carmichael said the organisation is in talks with other artistes who have expressed a willingness to lend their voice to the cause. He said the campaign will be reviewed after the SoE to determine if it should be extended.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

CRIME STOPPERS Trinidad and Tobago has doubled its reward for tips leading to gun seizures for the remainder of the state of emergency (SoE).

The rewards have risen to $4,000 for every handgun recovered, $5,000 for a shotgun and $7,000 for automatic rifles.

At a media conference on March 27 at the Sackville Street, Port of Spain, Police Administration Building, Crime Stoppers director Darrin Carmichael warned "silence is deadly" as he urged the public to do their part.

“We are a point where gun crime and gun violence is disrupting and affecting families, communities, business, and the country as a whole, in a very serious way.”

Acting Commissioner of Police Junior Benjamin said with shootings accounting for almost 75 per cent of this year’s murders, it is important that guns be taken off the streets.

“There have been 94 murders this year and that is 94 too much. At least 69 of those murders were done with the use of firearms.”

He said statistics also showed more than 25 per cent of the victims were younger than 24-years-old.

“To me that is a significant statistic because we recognise the weapon of choice used in these homicides is the firearm.

“Therefore this gun removal programme is very critical and pertinent for us as we seek to reduce the crime situation.”

The SoE that was declared on December 30 end on April 13.