Business people are being urged by the police to report extortion. It is one of the serious crimes which are on the rise. The police have designated a team to deal with that specific issue.
They are hoping it would led to victims coming forward.
00:00Some business people have been forced by criminals to pay up with some of them reportedly losing their lives due to non-compliance in
00:07times past. The growing trend of extortion is something being highlighted by the police and TopCop earlier here with Christopher says
00:14the TTPS wants to crack down on it. This has led to the implementation of what she calls a strategic, deliberate, and
00:22dedicated team led by senior superintendent Richard Smith.
00:25And I want to today speak to the business community. We know we are challenged and that there is a fear in reporting, but know that if you call Mr. Smith, you will have that direct communication and confidentiality in your reports.
00:49Smith says police are experiencing some measure of success in dealing with the problem of extortion or in police terminology, demanding money by menaces. Once the money is handed over, it is considered robbery.
01:03He highlights that in 2022, there were 16 reports of extortion and seven were solved. In 2023, there were 162 reports, out of which 134 were committed by one couple against one victim for which the charges were laid. Ten additional people were charged in that year.
01:23In 2024, thus far, we have 19 reports of demanding money by menaces. And as of Monday, we had two persons, two additional persons were charged, making it nine counts of demanding money by menaces of being solved.
01:40It accounts for a 48 percent detection rate. He acknowledges that oftentimes there are trust issues and a fear factor involved in a lack of reporting perpetrators of extortion.
01:51The situation becomes even more difficult when people are reluctant due to the potential of encountering rogue officers who could be attached to the activities or the criminal elements behind the activities.
02:03Well, the assurance I can give them is that this is a highly confidential number.
02:07The persons who are receiving these calls have been properly vetted and they are, in fact, trusted with the persons that would be receiving these reports.
02:16And then I'll be coordinating the investigations as it relates to these victims.
02:21The officers of Threats of Extortion are being asked to contact the team at 797-3150.
Be the first to comment