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  • 1 year ago
A standoff took place between TTPS officers and Judiciary Court personnel outside the Princes Town High Court on Wednesday morning.

It occurred after one police officer tried to enter the premises with his licensed firearm.

In response the Judiciary says the officer was barred from entry, because he failed to comply with their screening policy and longstanding position on firearms in court buildings.

Reporter Cindy Raghubar-Teekersingh tells us more.
Transcript
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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