Director of the Police Complaints Authority, David West, has been re-appointed, making it his third term in office. West describes his past ten years at the Authority as "very good", but tells TV6, there is much more work to do, namely, getting more teeth for the Authority. Rynessa Cutting has more.
00:00With another five-year term secured, PCA Director David West is giving himself and the Police Complaints Authority a passing grade.
00:09The last two terms were very good. The PCA has, I think, become a household name now within Trinidad and Tobago.
00:18Initial reports have gone over 1,000 initial complaints a year. We have an app where the public can reach us.
00:27They don't have to come into the PCA. They can stay at home. They can send in their complaint.
00:33They can video in a complaint. They can attach an incident.
00:38We have increased staff. We have increased staff. Legal investigations have increased also.
00:48And as he embarks on his third consecutive term in office, the PCA Director is giving the public the assurance that the authority is governed by transparency, integrity and justice.
00:59I want to let the public know the PCA is here to serve them. We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure accountability and transparency within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
01:11And we are committed to ensuring that every complaint is treated with the seriousness that it deserves.
01:17Public trust and confidence in the TDPS is not the best. Do you have the sense or the feedback that there is trust in the PCA?
01:26Yes, there is trust in the PCA. And that is borne out by the amount of complaints that have increased over time because we are seen as a body that can do something.
01:36The PCA Director says he's looking forward to further empowering the authority to fulfill its mandate through legislative improvements.
01:45I think early next year we'll have a meeting with the Attorney General to discuss these initiatives.
01:52Working together with the Attorney General and the TDPS to make the body, the Police Complaints Authority, as an independent oversight body, I think to make it more efficient in coming towards complaints, in determining complaints.
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