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00:2429 reports of extortion have been received by the TTPS for the year thus
00:29far and one man has been charged with 22 offenses this from the head of the
00:35anti-extortion unit ACP Richard Smith during a walkabout exercise in
00:41Chaguanas today meanwhile minister in charge of policing Keith Scotland is
00:46warning extortionists that they will feel the brunt of the law
00:49Renessa cutting reports members of the public have made 29 reports of
00:54extortion to the police for the year as criminals tightened the noose on the
00:59business community
01:05because of one of our investigation
01:11so as the minister said if the reports are not made we cannot imagine what I
01:17people minds so we need to cut the reports that's the reason we formed a
01:22unit and we have a hotline which is seven nine seven fifty one fifty which
01:26we expect people to use
01:31minister for policing Keith Scotland is warning persons involved in this
01:36activity that they can't expect to feel the full brunt of the law
01:48to contact that unit but our voices will be heard at the first end which is bail
01:55applications those who are recidivist we will be having a strong view on that and
02:00making sure that it's presented to the district judge or the master and as it
02:06relates to sentencing if you are convicted
02:10that the concentration will be on the punitive and the deterrent and that will
02:18be our main focus. The Chaguanas borough has seen the highest incidents of extortion
02:22activity and some victims have suggested that police officers are complicit. Are
02:27there any plans to shake up things at the police station, the Chaguanas police station,
02:31to put a bit of a rift in that. I have a view on that, the view that I present on that is that any police officer, not just extortion, but any act that is counter-intuitive to the law which is to protect and serve, I would hold that inscript, immediate and decisive action be taken against those officers.
03:00We have seen recently there was an incident and we have seen the results, I don't want to discuss cases before the court, but we want swift and decisive action and I want to say to the police officers, just do your job, protect and serve and by and large, by and large, they are right-thinking police officers who represent the majority of the force.
03:20Minister Scotland has had four meetings with the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and
03:24Commerce as well as business stakeholders in Tobago and South Trinidad.
03:29We find that the challenges that we face in the ministry does not allow anyone to sit any longer in an office and I certainly will not be sitting in an office, I will be going around ensuring that plans that were not at all interfering with the date of the operations, the plans that were hatched by the bad-looking officers, bears fruit and I'm just here to give them the support.
03:51The minister was speaking prior to a walkabout with police and army officers in Chaguanas.
03:57Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
04:00Joint police and army patrols have been ramped up in Chaguanas and other parts of the country can expect similar activity.
04:09Minister in charge of policing Keith Scotland believes this activity will bring back a sense of safety to the public even as the murder toll continues to rise.
04:20We have to give the public a sense of comfort, a sense that we are doing something and I feel that if they see this that they will get that sense of comfort that is not being felt now.
04:36Also, the nature of the murders, although the other serious crimes are done, sometimes are so harrowing that it creates a psychological effect on people. Although other crimes are done, people are saying look at the murders.
04:52During the walkabout in the borough today, many people responded positively to the minister and the increased presence of the police and army including the Chaguanas business chamber.
05:06It would have taken different shapes and forms, it would have gone up and down in different areas but that follow up and follow through is important and we would have been engaging with the government officials and the minister for about 8 to 10 weeks now and this is our fourth time so we are looking for that follow up and follow through to have those criminal activities really being reduced and we are seeing that is happening with these initiatives.
05:31Crime seems to be increasing on a daily basis here in Chaguanas and it's good to see the police presence and the minister here today taking a walkabout to make sure that the citizens feel safe and everybody feels safe and give them the assurance that we have police behind us all the time.
05:49If I feel comforted, oh yes I do in Chaguanas, very much so.
05:57Do you feel that this is something that is very much needed in Chaguanas?
06:01Yes, all the time on a regular basis.
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