DCP Benjamin: Drop in murders show TTPS is working

DEPUTY Commissioner of Police (DCP) Junior Benjamin said the sharp drop in the murder rate – 358 as of December 23, compared to 600 in 2024 – shows that the TTPS is doing its work effectively, notwithstanding a drop in the public's confidence, as stated in the Police Service Commission's (PSC) annual report for 2024.

During an interview with Newsday on December 23, Benjamin said this sharp decline in murders was proof that the TTPS' anti-crime initiatives were bearing fruit and was a strong rebuttal of criticisms which followed the PSC's 2024 report.

Since the time of that report – which was recently laid in the House of Representatives – Trinidad and Tobago has seen a change in government, appointment of a full substantive police commissioner plus two states of emergency within a 12-month period.

In the commission's report, were the results of a public trust survey conducted in December 2024, which sought the public's viewpoints on police performance, police trust, police confidence and personal fear of crime. The PSC had likewise commissioned such a report in December 2023.

The 2024 public trust survey showed some significant worsening of the public's perception of the TTPS since the previous 2023 report, in the areas of police performance, police trust and police confidence. There was a slight improvement (lessening) of people's fear of crime although those figures remained extremely high up to December 2024.

In the bar-chart on police performance, most strikingly, the public's dissatisfaction with how the police dealt with white collar crime was at 79 per cent (from 75 per cent in the 2023 survey).

Some 77 per cent of people were dissatisfied with how the police dealt with corruption in the police service (from 70 per cent in the 2023 survey).

Some 73 per cent were not happy with the job the police was doing in the country (from 66 per cent in 2023). Some 62 per cent were dissatisfied with the job the police were doing in their community and 56 per cent did not think the police had a sufficient visibility in their community.

The public perception of the police had also slightly worsened in the broad area of public trust, between the 2023 and 2024 surveys.

Some 63 per cent of people were dissatisfied with the police's follow-up on reports made (from 60 per cent in 2023). Likewise, some 65 per cent did not think the police gave sufficient feedback to their customers, a figure worsened from 61 per cent in 2023.

Some 61 per cent did not think the police responded promptly to calls for assistance, 62 per cent did not think the police understood their community's needs, and likewise, 58 per cent did not think the police were dedicated to their community.

Things were a bit better in terms of the public's confidence in the police's ability to address crime.

A minority of 47 per cent of people were dissatisfied with the police's ability to solve crimes (from 43 per cent in 2023), with 50 per cent saying they were satisfied.

Only 46 per cent disbelieved in the police's ability to apprehend criminals (from 42 per cent in 2023). Fifty per cent of people believe the police could catch criminals.

FEAR LEVELS HIGH

The final table showed quite high levels of people's personal fear of crime, across eight categories, and compared with the three years prior.

Some 75 per cent of people were afraid to be on their neighbourhood streets at night, and 52 per cent at daytime.

Some 64 per cent were afraid to drive in their community at night, 62 per cent afraid to be outside their home or in their yard at night, and 76 per cent to leave their home doors open when they were awake.

A whopping 79 per cent of people feared being victims of robbery or home invasion (improved from 82 per cent in 2023). Some 72 per cent feared being attacked by a stranger in their community, improved from 75 per cent in 2023.

Interestingly, people were actually more afraid for the safety of their loved ones than for themselves.

Some 84 per cent of people said they were afraid of a friend or family member being a victim of crime. This figure was 80 per cent in 2020, 81 per cent in 2022 and 85 per cent in 2023.

Benjamin, in reply, said 2024 had been a challenging year for the TTPS which was hamstrung by lacking two DCPs until their appointment in March that year. Since then, the top brass had implemented procedures, systems and policies. He cautioned that: "It (improvements) would not happen overnight."

After the 600-plus murders in 2024, CoP Allister Guevarro had asked government for an SoE, which was in line with the TTPS' broader strategy to tackle lawlessness.

"January and February (2025) saw a reduction in those numbers. We are now in one of the lowest years in terms of homicides," Benjamin said.

Reflecting on the data in the commission's public trust survey, Benjamin said the very, very high murder rate in 2024 meant it was understandable that public trust and confidence would be low. However, this year has seen a change in the posture of the TTPS, especially to be more community-driven, he said.

"DCP (Suzette) Martin is out there doing a lot, especially with Operation Festive Shield, showing a softer side of the police." Benjamin welcomed the appointment of Guevarro, mid-year, as causing greater stability and focus in the TTPS, and building trust and community partnerships.

He questioned the survey's criticism of alleged police corruption, claiming that police have been arresting and prosecuting errant officers.

Benjamin added, "The TTPS is judged by one thing: the murder rate. We set the groundwork, so the mistakes of 2024 were not repeated in 2025."

Newsday asked about public disquiet, namely a lack of the police getting back to reassure victims after crime, with almost two-thirds of people saying they were dissatisfied. Benjamin said this was a low-hanging fruit which the TTPS could and would address.

"That is one of the areas that is presently assisting us and has assisted us in terms of seeing such a phenomenal reduction in the number of homicides to date. We are now at 358 murders compared to 600 in 2024. In 2023 we had 563. We are now 358.

"Again, that is testimony to one, that even our very style...We are seeking to build in our regime where police officers should call and give feed-back to people. We can also seek to do that by having more police officers be more visible in areas, so people are able to communicate more with the police."

He boasted of the police holding more town meetings for people to share and for the police to give feedback on their communities, to build safety and police legitimacy. "When we talk about legitimacy, it is where we want the public to want the police to police them.

"We are moving that into our strategic plan and operational plan. Individual commanders are employing those strategies and all of those things are what are really helping us right now to reap such a great success as we come to the end of the year." That success could only come about by the public's help, he said. "We are hoping to improve as we go along into 2026."

Cops now more 'approachable'

Newsday asked about the third table, the public's confidence in the police's ability to solve crimes, which had slightly worsened from 2023 to 2024.

Benjamin said, "When you have crime at a high rate, the confidence level would be certainly low. But for 2025, we have shown we are able to have a greater control with not just reducing crime, but it is how we reduce it."

He said the police have successfully used intelligence-led and evidence-based approaches to crime-fighting. "The police are now much more approachable."

Benjamin said the police have worked hard in getting officers into schools and into community groups like churches and other religious organisations. "It is a problem-solving approach that we are doing, quite a number of things we are doing.

"You will see a reversal in 2026. We have looked at the situation in 2024 and we have made the necessary adjustments. We are seeing the fulfilment of the hard work by the CoP, his executive and the first and second division officers, and unsworn people in the police service, to achieve the goals and vision of the police service, to make every place safe in TT."

On the final table, about people's fear for their safety including 84 per cent of people fearing a loved one becoming a crime victim (down from 85 per cent in 2023), Benjamin expressed optimism. "The fact we saw improvement I think is a plus even in the midst of a negative situation (2024 high crime-rare).

"If that happened, you could imagine now where the situation is positive and expecting to see a tremendous increase/improvement in that regard.

"I'm saying not only have we solved more and seen less home invasions, but we now have legislation to support it.

"I think it gives further backing to the police and even bolsters the power the individual has to deal with home invasions. That will auger well to see a greater improvement in the stats in that regard.

"I am saying the fear of crime is something I am certain that when you look at the number of homicides – the fact we only have 358 compared to 625 last year – certainly that should do a lot for the confidence of the people."

He said for the first time, TT was not in the top list of most violent countries.

"If we really want to deal with the fear of crime, we need to constantly look, as an organisation, to improve the way in which we speak to the public and communicate with the public. I think those are the small things, the low-hanging fruits, that we can work on. That is what we are committing ourselves to, as we step into 2026.

"We are certainly not comfortable with the murder situation. We still want to see it reduced. Therefore, we are going to be working hard at that and we want to work on how we can communicate even more with the public so that we can really build that bridge of friendship, so that people could really feel more comfortable on the streets, in their homes and in the workplaces."