[UPDATED] NTA slams PSC's 'crocodile tears' over crime

THE National Transformation Alliance (NTA) has criticised the Police Service Commission (PSC) for lamenting that only eight per cent of the population believe the police are doing a good job in dealing with crime.

The PSC made this finding in its 2022 annual report, which was laid in the House of Representatives on November 1.

In the report, PSC chairman retired Justice Judith Jones said, “At present, we are faced with a crime situation that has far surpassed that which applied in 2003-2004.”

This is highlighted by the murder rate.

Jones said, “By 2022, the murder rate moved from the 2005 figures of almost 30 per 100,000 and sky-rocketed to approximately 44 per 100,000.

“In contrast, the detection rate for murders has remained static at 12.9 per cent.”

She added this was reflected in the results of the survey, showing low numbers of people having low confidence in the ability of the police to fight crime, while more people were afraid of the high probability of becoming victims of crimes themselves.

In a statement, the NTA said the public should "ignore the crocodile tears being spilled by the PSC with regard to runaway crime and the paltry eight per cent public trust and confidence rating the TTPS (TT Police Service) received in their own sanctioned survey."

The party added that the PSC should accept some of the blame for crime, as it decided to replace NTA political leader Gary Griffith as Comissioner of Police (CoP) in 2021.

The NTA observed that a public trust and confidence survey done by the PSC before Griffith left office in August 2021 put public trust in the police at 59 per cent.

The party reiterated that it does not blame CoP Erla Harewood-Christopher for crime

That blame, the NTA continued, lay with people who thought Harewood-Christopher was the best person for the job.

The party also criticised the PSC's call for more oversight of the police service to better assist the CoP.

"So having basically been a part of the demolition team, which includes those who appointed them, that destroyed public trust and confidence in the TTPS, shattered the morale of rank and file police officers, and put every citizen at increased risk of home invasions, kidnappings, sexual assault and murder, because of the shutting down of policies which were successful during Gary Griffith’s tenure as CoP, they are now asking for more power," the statement said.

"As the NTA has been consistently saying, the issue is not the present CoP, but those who thought she was best suited for the position despite her obvious shortcomings. So instead of crying and looking for sympathy from the public, whilst trying to increase their power, they should do the honourable thing and resign, because they have failed the citizens of TT," it added.

In the report, Jones said to be able to appoint the most effective leader for the police service, the PSC must have a strategic role in establishing training requirements for members of the service.

She said this would further ensure that “the alignment of the Police Service’s promotion processes and criteria for promotion with those used by the commission for appointment to the top offices will enhance the commission’s ability to appoint the best person for the job.”

Jones said the PSC should also monitor the performance of assistant police commissioners, as they sometimes act as CoP or as deputy police commissioners.

The NTA said, "Instead of crying and looking for sympathy from the public whilst trying to increase their power, they should resign because they have failed the citizens of TT."