The President of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Social and Welfare Association Gideon Dickson is advising all officers, that if they attempt to attend Court and are being told that they cannot do so with their firearm, to return to their stations forthwith. This, in light of a 2016 policy by the Judiciary, that there are to be no firearms in the courts. Rynessa Cutting reports.
00:00The president of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Social and Welfare Association, Gideon Dixon, says he cannot and will not allow police officers to be placed in a disadvantaged position with respect to the judiciary's new firearm policy in the courts.
00:16You have seen in recent times that these criminals are not stopping by the church and waiting for you to come out. They are going inside. They are going into the hospital. They are going into the schools. They are going wherever they feel the need to go.
00:36The message being conveyed by the judiciary is inconsistent with what is taking place in society now. And you are saying that you want the police to put down their guns and come to court. When it is there, the criminals are assembling. What are you saying? If something erupts there, the police should do what? Do it how? Do it when? Do it where?
00:59The policy was first implemented in 2016 and remains in force today.
01:04We are calling on those in authority to sit down around the table and let us brainstorm the best way forward. But we are not going to sit back and let anyone, whether it is the judiciary or not, create any policy which would want to try to usurp what the law says. The law says that we could be there in our official capacity and that is the only reason why we are there.
01:28Dixon is advising police officers that if they attempt to attend court and are being told that they cannot do so with their firearm, to return to their stations forthwith.
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