00:00members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service on Wednesday stood in
00:05support of their colleague after he was debarred entry to the Princess Town
00:09Judicial Complex. TV6 News was told the officer arrived at work at the Judiciary
00:14South District building with his TGPS issued firearm because he received
00:19several threats on his life. However since firearms are not allowed in court
00:25buildings he was not allowed entry a position which led to some friction
00:29between court security personnel and the TGPS officers on duty. One officer
00:35expressed concern over the moves saying it poses a risk to their lives and
00:40others given the high state of crime and the fact that courts are high-risk
00:45buildings where witnesses and suspects are under one roof. The impasse saw
00:50multiple senior Southern Division officers turning up at the site but
00:55after discussions we understand the court's position remained the same. In a
01:00media statement this afternoon the judiciary acknowledged the incident
01:04saying the TGPS officer refused to comply with the judiciary's universal
01:09screening policy and position on firearms in court buildings. It said this
01:16is not the first time judiciary security personnel have encountered this issue
01:20with this TGPS officer and formal complaints were lodged. The judiciary
01:27went on to say that all persons entering judiciary facilities and courthouses
01:32including officers of the TGPS are required to be scanned either by
01:38baggage, walk-through or handheld scanners a function carried out by the
01:43National Maintenance and Training Security Company. The judiciary's policy
01:49position it underscores prohibits court users and TGPS officers from entering
01:55the court's premises with a firearm. This position on exclusion of firearms from
02:01court buildings was adopted in July 2015 after examination of international court
02:07security practice and the judiciary says it has always formally communicated this
02:13to various stakeholders including the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago
02:18and commissioners of police from 2015 to present. The judiciary reminds all that
02:26it manages the security at all premises under its control. The judiciary says
02:32while it recognizes the important role played by officers of the TGPS in
02:37providing public safety and security the judiciary reserves the right to regulate
02:44access to all court premises. TV6 was told by a senior police officer that the
02:51TGPS is committed to dealing with the matter in a diplomatic way and said a
02:57follow-up meeting between the TGPS and judiciary personnel has been scheduled
03:03for Friday. Cindy Raghuba Tika Singh TV6 News
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