Police Response In Trinidad and Tobago

In years gone by, members of the Police Service were extremely cautious, maybe even reluctant to get involved in domestic matters. Some officers regarded such incidents as "man and woman business" in which they should not intervene. It has also been their experience that many victims are eventually unwilling to testify against their partners in court and the intervention of the Police is therefore brought to naught in the long run.

NEW ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVES
As the number of incidents multiplied, Police administrators recognised that the domestic violence situation warranted their immediate attention. This was confirmed in 1991, when Trinidad and Tobago introduced legislation classifying particular offences as domestic violence. The then Commissioner of Police got actively involved in formulating directives to guide police officers in their response to reports of domestic violence.

Officers were instructed to respond promptly to all such reports. Casual dispersal of domestic violence reports was firmly discouraged. All reports of domestic violence were to be investigated and appropriate action instituted in the same manner as would be done in the investigation of any other crime.

COMMUNITY POLICING SECTION
Later, with the reintroduction of Community Policing as an anti-crime strategy in 1996, domestic violence was targeted as a major area of interst. In 1999, the Community Policing Section received 1,693 reports of domestic violence and elivered 1,119 lectures to schools, adult organisations, parent-teacher associations and other bodies on current topics including domestic violence.

Several programmes were mounted ofr frontline officers. They were trained in investigative techniques as well as [techniques] for dealing with victims in a non-invasive, caring and understnading manner. Community Policing personnel were also trained in areas such as Psychology, Conflict Resolution, Mediation, Creative Problem-Solving and Counselling, which prepared them for effective intervention.

INCREASED LEGISLATIVE POWERS
In 1999, with the Revised Domestic Violence Act victims of domestic violence received greater protection. The power and jurisdiction of the court were increased, the scope and ambit of the protection order were enlarged, harsher penalties were provided for greater power to intervene in domestic violence situations.
The revised 1999 Act now authorised the officer to enter premises without a warrant, where the officer has reasonable cause to believe that a person is engaging in or attempting to engage in conduct, which amounts to physical hostility and that failure to act immediately may result in serious physical injury or death. This was a major breakthrough for the Police Service as officers were aware that the slightest hesitation provided an avenue for tragedy to strike.

COMMUNITY NETWORKING
With this heightened thrust towards the intervention and prevention of domestic violence, the Police Service found it necessary to establish liaisons between itself and other Departments, both within and outside the Government Service.

In February 2000, the Police Service opened the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Community Facility, that caters for women and children who have been removed form their homes in cases of domestic violence and other forms of abuse. This facility has met with much success, not only in providing temporary accommodation, but also in the provision of counselling services, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Gender Affairs, and a willing ear for many persons in their time of despair.