- 7 months ago
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00This program is unsuitable for young children.
00:30Beyond the Tape, we'll be back after these messages.
00:41Get the best in affordable eyewear, frames with blue filter lenses and eye exam.
00:47Single vision lenses with transitions on designer frames.
00:50Progressive transitions with designer frames.
00:52Happening only at CV Optical, affordable eye care for everyone.
00:56WorkSide Tools professional high quality tools at great prices can be found at Megatrader's Home Improvement Center.
01:04WorkSide Tools uses high quality materials and advanced technology to manufacture power tools.
01:09From cordless drills, impact drivers, saws, routers, to angle grinders, rotary hammer drills, circular saws, shake saws.
01:17Visit us at Megatrader's Limited, number 81, Saquero Street, San Fernando.
01:21Call 652-4438.
01:23Shop online at www.ebuystt.com.
01:28Reach everyone, everywhere, all at once, with The Express.
01:33Whether it's via the trusted pages of our newspaper, using our app, on our social media pages, or through our website,
01:40The Express makes it easy to connect with your target audience.
01:43When you advertise on any of our platforms, your message travels further, leading to greater awareness, increased lead generation, and maximum return on investment.
01:54So whether your customers are at home, at work, or on the move, it's easy to reach everyone, everywhere, all at once, with The Express.
02:02The choice is clear.
02:09The TV6 News is the number one news broadcast and the most watched program in TNT, including all cable programming.
02:17With over 50% more eyeballs than the closest competitor, advertisers trust The TV6 News to deliver their message to their target audience.
02:26Competitive rates ensure the biggest bang per buck, and the authority and reputation of the newscast help to build and maintain trust in your brand.
02:34So regardless of the size of your business, the choice is clear.
02:37TV6 News delivers results.
02:44The Sunday Express remains the first choice for readers.
02:48Hard-hitting social commentary, investigative stories, special reports, lifestyle publications, youth content, and more.
02:57Make The Sunday Express the most widely read edition of the leading newspaper, NTNT.
03:01Whether it's via our physical paper, the e-paper, the Express app, or our website, with the highest combined circulation and readership covering multiple demographics across multiple platforms,
03:12The Sunday Express gives you the opportunity to increase your reach, boost awareness, and generate engagement.
03:19Plus, our reputation for integrity and fearless journalism enhances the prestige of your brand.
03:25Success starts with The Sunday Express.
03:31Welcome to Beyond the Tape.
03:42I'm your host, Mark Bassand.
03:43Welcome to our viewers across Trinidad and Tobago.
03:46And of course, our global viewers.
03:48And we just want to congratulate opposition leader Penelope Beckles.
03:52Today, officially appointed as the opposition leader for the People's National Movement.
03:59So we just want to congratulate her.
04:01And of course, today, we're going to be talking about crime and crime prevention and strategies involved in reducing crime.
04:09And today, with us, is none other than the director of the Crime Stoppers, Mr. Darren Carmichael.
04:14Welcome, sir.
04:14How are you?
04:15Pleasure to be here.
04:16Good afternoon to all of you guys.
04:18How are things?
04:19How are things?
04:20Well, things couldn't be better.
04:22I mean, we're here, we're live, breathing, and, you know, taking things one day at a time, basically.
04:28So I know that Crime Stoppers has been, you know, doing a lot of, you know, work behind the scenes, of course, collaborating with the police and other NGOs and so on, as we try to rid the country of violent crimes and firearms and a number of other things.
04:43And I know you're a pretty busy man, so we're really thankful that you made the time today to come to us and have a discussion just about, I guess, bringing the public up to speed of some of the things that you all have been doing.
04:55And, of course, some of the things you all have plans to do going forward in the future.
05:00Certainly.
05:01Well, you know, I always welcome any opportunity to share information.
05:05The public, you know, a lot of the times we realize that they don't have sufficient information, even though a lot of information is out there.
05:12Sometimes they're pretty much, you know, either not looking at the right things or not keeping top of mind what they should keep top of mind.
05:19So it's always good to instruct and direct and, you know, give that kind of guidance.
05:23How important is the collaboration of Crime Stoppers with the TTPS and, by extension, all those other organizations in terms of networking and getting information that you believe is credible in helping to solve crime?
05:40Well, I mean, the easiest way to explain that is we all know what our ecosystem is supposed to be, all right?
05:46And that allows, you know, nature and things to flourish and thrive.
05:51Crime, to stop crime, you know, I personally believe that we need to have, similarly, an ecosystem that will treat with crime in its simplest form.
06:04And that is to say the public, the police, and in this case Crime Stoppers as a for instance.
06:09So that partnership between the police, the public, and Crime Stoppers is what Crime Stoppers is really built on, that partnership.
06:17And it's very simple.
06:19The police may be stumped, which is how Crime Stoppers started.
06:22There's a crime occurred.
06:24The police only have so much information in terms of solving it.
06:27And they call upon the public for assistance.
06:30So by using the media, right, the media would share the information and broadcast the crime or the newspaper, whatever it might be.
06:39And then we call upon the public to say what they saw, to say what they know.
06:42And we kind of spark them on in terms of where it occurred, what happened, some details and so on.
06:48Much of the time when you look at all the reenactments and all these social media clips and so on,
06:53somebody might be prompted to say, but I know that vehicle.
06:56I heard the loud crash.
06:57You know, I saw somebody running.
06:59And really, that is what gets to the public.
07:01And now they can then say, okay, well, this is what I know about you.
07:04And they call the program, which is Crime Stoppers.
07:07And it's because we are anonymous.
07:10It's a toll-free number, right?
07:12And it's safe and reliable.
07:13So that's how the whole symbiotic relationship takes place between the public, police, and the media.
07:20Now, you talk about this ecosystem.
07:22Do you think that this ideology is properly bought by all the stakeholders?
07:30Or is there still room for that ideology to grow amongst others and so that ecosystem will thrive?
07:37That's a great question.
07:39What I will say is this.
07:41There are people who, how the ecosystem is affected, fear and the fear of reprisal.
07:47So what really grapples families and persons out there in the public is the fear of crime.
07:53Sometimes the murders, the home invasions, haven't occurred close to them or in the vicinity.
07:59But just because they know that there is that reprisal element,
08:02where somebody who knows if they give information, there might be some repercussion or so on.
08:07Or they see things and they just don't want to get involved.
08:10And it could be because of mistrust or some, you know, some notion of mistrust with the police and so on.
08:15So what we try to do and have been successful to some major part is really just bridging that divide between the public and the police
08:23and that perceived mistrust that may have occurred, you know, somewhere in the past.
08:28It may not be now because the police have been doing a lot to build that relationship with the public, you know.
08:33And I've been seeing it every single day, right.
08:35So I'm thinking for the ideology to work perfect, the public must, you know, open arms, trust the police.
08:43You know, that kind of thing where you see somebody fall back without seeing who's in the back here to catch you.
08:48That's what we need the public to do right now with the police.
08:51And if they do that, what is going to happen?
08:53The criminals will stand a chance.
08:55It's two of them against 200 of us, right.
08:57But because of the fear that they put into persons, because of the fact that they may be gaining, growing and seem to be winning,
09:04that is, you know, that kind of sways the thinking of the public and they feel apprehensive.
09:10They just sit to themselves and so on.
09:12So programs like Crime Stoppers and the Neighborhood Watch Initiative and so on,
09:17that was all geared towards bringing out this relationship with the police.
09:20and building that trust or virginity mistrust that may occur.
09:26We're certainly going to be talking a lot more about some of the initiatives that Crime Stoppers have, you know,
09:31started and continue with as they hope to get the public on board.
09:36But now we're going to go to our headlines.
09:37So those were some of the headlines within the last 24 hours.
10:02And, of course, the last headline you saw there dealt with, sorry, a Mount Doe man that was charged for election bribery.
10:12Apparently, on Election Day, it is alleged that he was in the vicinity of polling stations,
10:18apparently handing out money to voters between the sum of $300 to $400.
10:22And the police received a call and they later intercepted the vehicle with this 46-year-old resident of Mount Doe Road, Chamflay,
10:32arrested him.
10:34And, of course, he was subsequently charged on Friday, May 2nd,
10:38for the offence of bribery contrary to Section 962A of Chapter 201 of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.
10:44So, definitely, the police sending a strong message for those who were trying to, in any way,
10:50interfere with that fear and free process.
10:54That's excellent work.
10:56And, of course, somebody from the public must have mentioned it to the police that this is happening.
11:01You see, the police can't be everywhere at once.
11:03Yes.
11:03And we recognize that this is where the public really comes in to fill that gap, you know,
11:09so the police could get the information that is required.
11:12Most definitely.
11:13All right, so around, we have a video to show you.
11:16Around 1 o'clock this morning, a white fielder wagon was stolen from the Armadillo Drive, New Valencia, PBZ 4983.
11:26Apparently, you can see a gentleman in the vehicle trying to start it, of course, by the unconventional way, of course.
11:36Not by a key, but some other way.
11:38And, definitely, the vehicle was taken away a couple minutes later.
11:46And we're asking anyone with information to contact the nearest police station.
11:51Of course, the Valencia police station will be your first bet.
11:55Or contact 999-911-555 or 800-TIPS.
12:02I know, Mr. Carmichael, you would, obviously, you all probably get a lot of calls like this.
12:11About, about...
12:12And that area in Valencia, New Valencia, there is an active neighborhood crime watch there.
12:18The Valencia police post, they're very instrumental in establishing and bridging that group, many groups in the area.
12:27So, they have a vibrant neighborhood watch group in that area.
12:30And, hopefully, this information and the video footage, what they do, they gather the video footage.
12:36So, why do you have one set there?
12:38I think, by now, others may have joined in and contributed whatever footage they have.
12:44That might speak to how he got there, you know, how they left, what route they took, and that type of thing.
12:50So, it's important to, to, to use the neighborhood watch to bring information like this to the police.
12:55Yes, certainly.
12:56And, you know, he, he took his time, of course, but he finally got the vehicle started.
13:00As I said, through some unconventional means, of course, hot wiring or otherwise.
13:07But, and it's, it's also important for persons to, you know, when you own a vehicle to have some kind of security on it.
13:14Yes?
13:14Yeah.
13:15Which is important.
13:16Well, some of them have, you know, persons have, and I don't understand why more haven't.
13:21But, you know, persons have invested here.
13:23You spend $150,000 odd behind a vehicle.
13:26Yes.
13:27Putting in a device like a GPS device is, you know, is a no-brainer, to me at least.
13:33Yes.
13:33But, a lot of people have not done that.
13:36So, a simple thing like a good, well-placed.
13:40And, I say well-placed because some people put it in the obvious places.
13:43And, you know, we have seen five minutes down the road, you see the GPS on the ground.
13:48Yes.
13:49That's how quickly they find it, right?
13:51So, it's important that you have a good, well-placed device.
13:54Something that will stand the test.
13:57And, or secondary devices.
14:00There are some people who have also included what they call passive devices in the thing.
14:05That's the ones you're not going to find by tracing a wire or something like that.
14:09So, it's important that you, you know, you put some handicap in the way.
14:14Crime, like running water, follows the path of least resistance.
14:18So, imagine how simple it was for him to jump in the can and do what he does.
14:23You know, if he were to have a club lock in there now.
14:27So, all of a sudden, on his steering wheel, he'll have another device he has to inform.
14:31Which is a very effective old-school mechanism, man.
14:33It takes time.
14:34You see, what he didn't have or doesn't have on his side is time.
14:38So, the faster he gets in, or in fact, just looking at that steering wheel lock, or what you call it, club lock long time.
14:45Yes.
14:45Just looking at that from outside the vehicle is enough to probably intimidate them to go to the next vehicle.
14:51Better pickings next door.
14:52You know, so I'm encouraging persons to put some additional measures in place.
14:56You know, I don't know whether dogs were barking in the area.
15:00You can't tell.
15:01But a lot of things like that are, you know, natural deterrence.
15:06It wasn't anything about light.
15:07Clearly, the place was well lit.
15:08Yes.
15:09You know.
15:09Most definitely.
15:11All right.
15:12We are actually looking for your help in locating this gentleman.
15:19His name is Mr. Renold Waldrop.
15:22He's 77 years of age.
15:24He's from Arima.
15:25He was last seen today around 12.30 p.m. in the Port of Spain area.
15:30So, you're asking any persons who have any information about the whereabouts of Mr. Waldrop to contact Finaris Police Station or 999-555-911 or 800-TIPS.
15:45All right.
15:45We're going to take a short break.
15:47And when we come back, we'll have more.
15:49Stay with us.
15:52Stay with us.
16:22The hairbrush is another great for months.
16:24It removes hair instances.
16:25Hair groups.
16:26Available exclusively at Modern Caribbean Enterprises Limits.
16:30Call 6530011.
16:32Come on, boys.
16:35Let's see what Serta's been up to.
16:39Well, well.
16:40The Serta Perfect Sleeper.
16:43Hey.
16:43It's the only official mattress of the National Sleep Foundation.
16:46And it says here that it helps solve five common sleep problems.
16:49So comfortable.
16:51They'll never want to count us again.
16:53We'll see about that.
16:55Keep it moving, fellas.
16:57This feels good on my back.
16:59I heard that.
17:00The Serta Perfect Sleeper.
17:02The Trinidad Express e-paper is rated triple-A.
17:07Adaptable, accessible, and available.
17:10Download it for all your Android or iOS devices and enjoy bonus pictures and video with select stories.
17:16Get news, sports, weather, lifestyle articles, and more translated into 11 languages with a convenient voice reader function for when you're on the go.
17:26Set up customized alerts for the content you want and never miss a story with access to past editions at any time.
17:33Plus, it's affordable and easy to use.
17:37So what are you waiting for?
17:38Subscribe today.
17:56Maybe you could afford to pay up to $22,500 in fines and lose your license permanently.
18:21No?
18:22Then don't drink and drive.
18:24A message from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
18:39Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
18:42I am your host, Mark Bessant.
18:44Welcome, our Director of Crime Stoppers, Mr. Darren Carmichael.
18:48Well, Mr. Carmichael, the Crime Stoppers, obviously, during the state of emergency, had a gun retrieval program.
18:58And I know that, you know, it was in an effort, obviously, to rid the streets of illegal firearms in collaboration, of course, with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
19:08I just wanted to get an idea of, you know, what was the response like, how successful it was, and do you all think that going forward, something like this can work?
19:18Yeah, definitely.
19:20Well, first and foremost, we started off on a late start, right?
19:26You know, in retrospect, and when we do a post-mortem, we realized that had we started that earlier, the results would have been way better.
19:36You know, frankly, the results weren't anywhere where we expected it to be.
19:39We had tips coming in, but not any numbers that we anticipated, given the fact that we increased the rewards and so on.
19:48So, to some extent, it tells us that money, and we've recognized this a long time ago, money sometimes is not really the motivator for persons to come forward, right?
19:58So, that speaks to probably something else, which might be fair, probably where they're placed, they're not in a position, you know, to come forward freely with the information and so on.
20:07So, that's something we look at, you know, on a daily basis.
20:11But, yes, had we started a bit earlier, the results certainly would have been better.
20:16Unfortunately, because it was specifically focused to trap the period of the SOE, we were not able to continue it beyond when the SOE ended.
20:27All right?
20:27So, that currently is on hold.
20:29We may bring it out in another dimension, depending on what we decide.
20:36All right.
20:37I think we have a call online.
20:39Caller, good evening.
20:40Good evening.
20:41Good evening, Mr. Mark Bassat.
20:42And I believe your co-host is Mr. Carmichael from the Crime Stoppers.
20:47Am I right?
20:48Am I right?
20:48Yes, you are.
20:48Yes, you are.
20:50Okay.
20:50And this is a question to Mr. Carmichael.
20:54Yes.
20:55One of the things, one of the metrics that the new Prime Minister has thrown into the public domain is six months to get a hold on auto-mitigrate crime.
21:10We know we have a big issue with the TTPS and its detection rate.
21:17You are apparently working hand-in-hand with the police with your Crime Stoppers program, right?
21:26And I have to say it is Trinidad and Tobago's Crime Stopper program.
21:30That's correct.
21:30The question I have for you, how are you going to help the Prime Minister achieve what you want?
21:40And I'm going to add some comments on it and challenge you on it.
21:45She has used a metrics.
21:47What are the metrics Crime Stoppers using to show us they are successful?
21:54Because one of the problems I have with the TTPS, they promote it, they promote it without a product.
22:00Because they're doing everything and they don't have the product, and the product is safety and security for citizens.
22:05You, as the leader for Crime Stoppers, can you tell me what you have done year-on-year with respect to help the TTPS detect crime?
22:23To put it simple, two years ago, how much you collaborated with the people, with the police themselves, for crime?
22:31If you have that metrics, I want to know what is your projection to help in the six months for mitigation of crime.
22:41That is all I have for you today.
22:43I hope I get a response from you.
22:46I am off air.
22:47You took a while to get to that point.
22:49All right.
22:49Well, I will say it like this, right?
22:51Depending on the answer you're looking for, I could tell you certain things.
22:54One is that our relationship with the police, I mean, I might be an unfair person to ask because I am biased towards the kind of work and the, you know, the commitment of the police that we deal with in Crime Stoppers.
23:10All right?
23:10So I could only speak volumes of what they do.
23:13All right?
23:13And it's simple because we have had a lot of information coming into the program over the years, year on year.
23:19And in every scenario, the Crime Stopper concept is that as we get the information from the public about the drugs, the guns, the whatever it might be, that information is passed on to the police to be investigated.
23:32Once they investigate, get search warrants, whatever they need, they act swiftly because we only have 21 days in the Crime Stopper program, 21 days within which the caller is going to call back to see if the tip is successful.
23:45So all we know is very small.
23:47We don't need six months, we don't need a year to act, right?
23:5121 days, they call back for information.
23:54And in that space of time, the police, you know, will go out, they investigate, they get the search warrants, they kick down the doors, whatever they need to do, and they come back to us to say the drugs have been found, the guns have been found, the persons have been arrested, right?
24:07And that is my, that is our experience.
24:09So when you ask how does Crime Stopper work and how do we see it working, once they continue to use the Crime Stopper program, once the persons like you out there in the public keep giving information, it will be successful.
24:22Three hundred million dollars worth of narcotics recovered as a result of information coming into Crime Stoppers.
24:31Ninety-eight million dollars worth of stolen property recovered as a result of information coming into the program.
24:37So from where I sit, from where those anonymous scholars sit, right, the program is very successful, right?
24:45And once the program continues, and I have no doubt it will, because we are in existence 25 years now, and that speaks to successive governments have supported the Crime Stopper program, all right?
24:56So I have no doubt it will continue and continue to prosper in the way it has in terms of tips and successes and so on.
25:03So our formula, both in working with the program through Neighborhood Crime Watch and building communities, building resilience, because every neighborhood that is formed, that's a neighborhood that is now looking out for crime, looking after, you know, looking out for criminal behavior, reporting information that they see.
25:23If they see something, they say something and report it.
25:25So it's a whole, like I said, an ecosystem in terms of the neighbors are looking out.
25:30They're on the WhatsApp chats and they're sharing information.
25:33Real-time information is being shared by the police.
25:36The police mount what they call a station council meeting once every month.
25:42We are members of each respective Neighborhood Watch group and other stakeholders within the community, the clergy, the schools, the taxi drivers association, the businessmen in the area,
25:53and neighborhood watch group's captains all attend this meeting once every month where they get an opportunity to tell the police how they want to be policed, to get an opportunity to share information, get feedback on crimes that they've reported or people within the communities have reported, speak to some of the incidents that are happening and the issues that they're dealing with from a crime perspective, all right?
26:15So all of these opportunities that exist on the relationship between the police and the public and so on, I think if that is to magnify and multiply in terms of more communities coming on board, more police getting involved,
26:29the police are on about 1,500 chat groups and the majority of them, the police in the district are on them, right?
26:36So it kind of tells you the effort that they're putting out.
26:38So from where I sit to the gentlemen, you're not going to win a debate with me.
26:44The police are working and the police could get the boots on the ground to help treat the situation and arrest some of the crime that are taking place.
26:53All right.
26:54So I'm hopeful that your answer was, you know, very thorough, of course, for the caller's questions.
27:02And, of course, after this break, I'll have some further questions and we'll take more of your calls.
27:07Stay with us.
27:20Support your immune system with Immune Plus by Aja Nutrition, packed with vitamin C, zinc, and elderberry.
27:27It boosts immunity, promotes heart health, and reduces inflammation.
27:30Available now at Pennywise and leading pharmacies nationwide.
27:35Get the best in affordable eyewear frames with blue filter lenses and eye exam.
27:40Single vision lenses with transitions on designer frames.
27:43Progressive transitions with designer frames.
27:46Happening only at CV Optical, affordable eye care for everyone.
27:50Get into your section with The Express.
27:53Whatever your tastes and whatever format you choose to read, there's something for you.
27:57Local and international news, sport, weather, lifestyle articles, features, puzzles, supplements, and more.
28:06We listen to what our readers want and create the content to stimulate your minds and spark your interests.
28:12We take pride in serving you.
28:15So get into your section with The Express.
28:18So you have big plans for the year end.
28:24A trip in July, birthday in November, and fet after fet this carnival.
28:31But you know what is stop plans?
28:33A $22,500 fine.
28:37You know what else could really stop your plans?
28:40Five years, five years imprisonment, and suspension on your license for three years.
28:46Don't drink and drive.
28:48Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
29:07I'm your host, Mark Bussan, joined today by Director of the Crime Stoppers, Mr. Darren Carmichael.
29:12Mr. Carmichael, you spoke before the break about some of the things that Crime Stoppers have done, of course, in assisting the police.
29:20You talked about $300 million worth of narcotics, $98 million worth of stolen property, retrieved, and so on, and recovered.
29:30If you can recall a specific success of something in the last year or two that Crime Stoppers was instrumental in providing information for.
29:39Well, I mean, Mark, I want to be honest with you.
29:43We try to stay away from being too specific, all right?
29:49But I'll go back more than two years.
29:51Fair enough.
29:52Right?
29:53Baby Jeremiah.
29:55Yes.
29:55Remember that?
29:55Yes.
29:56That was a crime supportive that led to the baby being found.
29:59Found.
29:59Okay.
30:00All right?
30:00And, you know, there are so many other instances that information, and bear in mind that this is information that the police would not otherwise have unless somebody pick up the phone and make a call.
30:14And that's how valuable a tip is.
30:17All right?
30:17The police may not have any clue that a crime would have occurred, but that person saw it fit to pick up the phone and see what is happening and so on.
30:25So, I mean, there are a number of things from hand grenades to firearms to murders being solved, persons being recovered, gang members being picked up, and so on.
30:36You name it.
30:37We've had containers of cigarettes seized, illicit cigarettes, and so on, illicit goods generally.
30:42So, there is nothing that we cannot take in terms of calls because all crimes, whether it's fraud or white-white-collar crime, as they call it, or whether it's hard-cut, hard crime.
30:54And we want to get that information, and we will make sure that the right entity gets it.
30:58Now, while we say police, a lot of the things are not for police alone.
31:03So, you could really imagine if there's something for immigration, immigration will be called.
31:07If it's something that is a customs breach, they will be called.
31:11If it's something that is a copyright infringement, the IP office might be called.
31:15You understand?
31:16So, we literally contact any agency where the particular tip resides, and we make certain to get that information going.
31:24The nice thing about the program is that the police commissioner has seen it fit to appoint a senior police officer.
31:31Sometimes he ranks a superintendent.
31:33Yes.
31:33Sometimes he ranks a superintendent that is assigned to the program, and his assignment or her assignment is really to act as the liaison.
31:42Because when we send information to a division or police station, wherever it might be, we want somebody to follow it up.
31:49And that is our stock in trading.
31:50We make sure and follow the tip from beginning to end because we only have a window of 21 days we give the public.
31:57All right?
31:59And it has to hit the station.
32:01They have to assign it to someone.
32:03They have to action it, make the raid or whatever the target is, and they come back with information that, yes, we've been successful.
32:10If they found the weapon where it was said it would be, they may find ammunition with it.
32:15They may do a ballistics and a trace and realize it is linked to a murder or two.
32:19So while the person would have reported a firearm or in somebody's possession, if that firearm traces back to the commission of crimes, they get a tip or, sorry, a reward for every crime that firearm is linked to.
32:33Right.
32:33And if people realize how many crimes one firearm could be linked or associated to, right?
32:41You know, I mean, come on.
32:42I mean, one firearm off the street is a major accomplishment when you look at it like that.
32:46Now, you spoke about earlier on the gun retrieval, and of course, it could have been better, but you did say that it's this element of fear.
32:55Now, Crime Stoppers offers this anonymity so that persons that call and give a tip are guaranteed that they can never be found out.
33:03But some people don't believe that.
33:05Well, they don't.
33:06You know, it's the same reason we have the concern, is Crime Stoppers the police?
33:11And we have to, I mean, sometimes I come publicly and say Crime Stoppers is not the police.
33:16Yes.
33:16Right?
33:17So, you know, we have to keep saying that all the time because clearly not everybody is hearing it at the same time.
33:24Right?
33:24And for the same reason, we also advise that Crime Stoppers is anonymous.
33:28And we've engineered a couple of things to make sure that happens.
33:31One, the 800 tip number, 800-8477, it's toll-free, there's no call ID, no call tracing, none of the bells and whistles on the line.
33:43So we could never know who you are when you call.
33:45That's one.
33:46Nor do we want to know.
33:47All right?
33:48Secondly, we have the online portal, which is CrimeSuppersTT.com, right?
33:54And if you go to that website link, you will see an online tip portal.
33:59You click on it, and it takes you to the steps to report a crime.
34:02And, again, it's anonymous.
34:04Right?
34:04And there's also an app called P3, P as in the letter P and the number 3.
34:11Right.
34:11All right?
34:11So the P3 app, again, you download that.
34:15You fill out certain things in there.
34:16It has been engineered to be anonymous.
34:20So, you know, tech people may talk about IP address and linking this and follow-finding.
34:25Nothing like that is possible where the app is concerned.
34:28All right?
34:28And in all three instances, you know, the public have an opportunity to call us, send a message to the app, and it's anonymous.
34:38All right?
34:39And, of course, within 21 days, if we have a success, we will tell you when you contact us that the tip is successful.
34:46Which branch of Scotiabank, Scotiabank is our partner in this for the last 25 years, which branch of Scotiabank do you want to collect your reward?
34:54And the reward we pay is up to $10,000.
34:56In a case, you will see one or two cases where $100,000.
34:59Yes.
34:59In the case of free murder, free arm, Ms. Mitchell is his surname?
35:03Nicholas Phillips.
35:05Phillips.
35:05Edwards.
35:05Sorry.
35:06Nicholas Edwards.
35:07Yes.
35:07So, and again, wherever you see $100,000, it means that the family or some entity would have put up that reward amount.
35:14All right?
35:14That's not by us crime stoppers because we are restricted, and as part of the crime stopper program internationally, it's not more than $10,000 in the jurisdiction that we operate.
35:25So, it's $10,000 in the US, $10,000 in the jurisdiction that we have to pay, that type of thing.
35:32All right?
35:32So, you find that that is really where we are.
35:35So, all of those things combined is what makes the tip or the person anonymous.
35:41Right?
35:41Because even in the collection of reward, you go to Scotiabank, no ID required, no names taken, no signatures taken.
35:48You just get an envelope with $10,000, if that's the amount, and you leave, no questions asked.
35:55All right?
35:56Right.
35:56That knockwood has been successful 25 years ago.
35:58Now, I have a question.
35:59Yes.
36:01We have seen a number of violent crimes over the last few years, exponential.
36:06It has been exponential.
36:07What has the response on the tip line-like been?
36:13Has it increased exponentially over the last two to three years, rather than, per se, three years ago?
36:22Balancing that, of course, with the fact that the persons that are very fearful of giving information, how is that measured up?
36:29The only measure I can really tell you is the more we advertise something, is the more tips coming on it.
36:34To say specifically that we've had more one or the other crimes, and so I remember there was a lot of times we were having a lot of domestic violence kind of reports.
36:44Well, I mean, in terms of an overall response, not just one specific crime, has the tips increased in the last three years in terms of the volume of tips that you all received comparatively to three years ago?
36:54Yes, yes.
36:55The volume of tips have been increasing, all right?
36:59And, well, tips for us is, well, let's say actionable tips.
37:03Yes, yes.
37:04So the volume of actionable tips have increased, yes.
37:07What we also get, particularly on certain season, is prank calls, just like any other hotline.
37:14You know, the children, August holidays, call crime stoppers and, you know, and make a fake call or something.
37:23So, yes, but yes, the tips have been increasing.
37:26And, like I said, the more the public trusts us, and they are trusting us more, the more they trust us because the program is built on trust, right?
37:35Your call, your ID, your identity is safe, your caller information is safe, and trust is really the big part.
37:42So once we increase the trust, the calls will keep coming.
37:45All right.
37:46And we'll see that successfully over the years.
37:47All right.
37:47So we hope that those listening out there, if you have a tip about something, you can anonymously call 800-TIPS or go through the digital platforms to give that information.
37:58We're going to take a short break, and we'll be back.
38:00Stay with us.
38:00Get the best in affordable eyewear, frames with blue filter lenses and eye exam, single vision lenses with transitions on designer frames, progressive transitions with designer frames.
38:23Happening only at CV Optical, affordable eye care for everyone.
38:28Introducing Advanced Sys Energy Vitamins.
38:30Advanced Sys Energy Vitamins is designed to give you the extra push you need to power through your day.
38:35It's not just any multivitamin.
38:36Packed with more than 20 vitamins and minerals with added ginseng and reinforced prebiotics.
38:41A unique synergistic formula that you will find nowhere else.
38:45To help you experience more sustained energy, feel more alive and alert to keep you going strong all day long.
38:52See the difference now with Advanced Sys Energy Vitamins.
38:55Available at leading pharmacies and Pennywise nationwide.
38:57At the Express, we set the standards, giving you the facts, analysis, investigations, revelations, and opinions that safeguard democracy and hold leaders to account.
39:11Since 1967, we've brought you the most important stories at the most crucial times in our history, braving the front lines to give you all the information you need as citizens.
39:23As the world changes and we move further into an era of more immediate news coverage,
39:27We take pride in remaining consistent with high-quality stories in print, digitally, on social media, and beyond.
39:36The Express. Integrity and fearless journalism.
39:39This is Mary.
39:46Mary has bills to pay and takes a chance, parking in front of the building at the no parking sign.
39:54Mary returns to her car and this is what happens.
39:59Mary decides to call when she's five minutes away to let her daughter know that she is close by.
40:11But Mary forgot one thing.
40:14Boy, second ticket for the day. I don't know, huh? I really don't know. Well, I tell you.
40:20After two tickets, Mary just isn't paying attention to her speed.
40:26If you have fixed by a two-year-old vaccine, it's been like 15 kilometers.
40:30You have to test up here for 15 years of contest.
40:33I'm going to show you how other people pass. I haven't seen them.
40:36You haven't seen me, right?
40:37Eh?
40:38You haven't seen me, right?
40:40Don't be like Mary.
40:42Obey the laws of the road.
40:44A message from the TTPS.
40:47Welcome back to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host, Mark Bussan, joined today by Director of the Crimestoppers, Mr. Darren Carmichael.
41:06And we often talk about road safety and we have a little video to show you, of course, as we...
41:13This happened sometime in the last, there were two, two motorcyclists, you know, and this one is coming down on the right lane and he collides with his...
41:23Well, it looks like his friend. I'm not certain.
41:26Um, slowing down and his friend is coming with a speed, Mr. Carmichael.
41:32Yeah, that is, um...
41:34And runs into, uh, supposedly his colleague. Luckily, both were not badly hurt, uh, both, uh, of course, um, getting up.
41:46I don't know if there was some kind of motorcade of the sort in the last, uh, few days.
41:52But, definitely, um, you know, you have to be very mindful when you're on the road, whether you're driving a motorcycle, a car, a maxi-taxi, or a SUV.
42:03Yeah. Definitely.
42:05Alright. And then we have this very interesting, uh, video. Of course, we don't know the origin of the video.
42:13We don't, we're not certain if it was here in Trinidad and Tobago.
42:17But, there's a, what appears to be a female entering the yard of a person and then, obviously, venting a frustration on a, a parked vehicle, smashing, uh, several of the windows.
42:36Of course, the windscreen there, badly damaged, and leaving the area quite quickly.
42:42And, of course, if you, if this happens to be in Trinidad, um, anybody with information has been asked to contact the nearest police station or the location of where this might have happened, if you have any idea.
42:55Of course, please don't hesitate to contact the nearest police station.
42:59We don't know the reason for the, the, the vengeful, uh, damage on the vehicle.
43:05But, uh, surely, you know, it's defacing property, you know.
43:09I was brutal though.
43:10Yes.
43:11Yes.
43:12So, we have to be, obviously, very careful, uh, you know, in terms of, you know, uh, your friends, even, or people that might anger you, or might do something that you're not certain that they will do.
43:25Uh, and I know you just wanted to give some, uh, you know, parting crime tips as the, the program comes very close to an end.
43:33So, what we've seen is, and I really want to appeal to the public now that we could do things to help make ourselves or homes or families safer.
43:41And one of the things that come to mind is that we've been seeing an increase in the number of carjacking type, uh, scenarios.
43:48And, and, and bear in mind, and I'll use a term here, um, transitional spaces.
43:56All right.
43:57And, and it might be a fancy word, but it simply means there's a point where you're coming off from the public.
44:03Let's break it down like that.
44:04So, you're, you're not in the public public, but you're not safely in your house or in your home as yet.
44:09Yes.
44:10So, you're not transitional space, which is what the criminals use to attack you, to strike.
44:14So, you, anytime you're arriving in a transitional space, and just to put some context, it could be as simple as you stopping to open your gate to get in.
44:23Right?
44:24Because you're safe driving on the roadway.
44:26You're not stopping for anything.
44:27Your glass is rolled up.
44:28You're doing all the right things.
44:30But then when you stop to your gate now, right?
44:32Whether it's an automatic gate and you're waiting for it to open, or whether it's a gate where you have to get out and open yourself.
44:38Um, the criminals tend to use those choke points.
44:41Yes.
44:42To strike.
44:43All right.
44:44So, we're asking persons, so please, um, when you get to these areas, this is the point when you're supposed to be at your alertus.
44:50Well, alertus is a word, right?
44:52You're supposed to be very alert at that point in time.
44:55Don't use the opportunity to be checking your WhatsApp and your messages, or being wrapped up in a conversation, such that you're not paying mind to the surroundings.
45:04All right?
45:05So, you need to, on your way home, stop to look to see, especially when you reach a gate or near in the gate, are there any strange vehicles parked up and idling?
45:12Is there anybody in it?
45:13Is there somebody walking that may be able to get up at my gate in less than a few seconds, if I'm to stop?
45:21And so on, right?
45:22And of course, we have asked persons to keep all the bush and the shrub from around the gates and the entry points, make it as bare minimal as possible, so there are no hiding spots or places where persons could hide and so on, right?
45:34So that's one of the key things.
45:35And if you were to master that, and even when you get into your gateway, get out and close the door quickly, get inside quickly, that type of thing, then you would have removed a lot of the opportunistic type of crime that is taking place.
45:49All right?
45:50So that's one of the things that I would like people to look more at.
45:52And it's the same goes if you're leaving work.
45:54Yes.
45:55So maybe at work and you're going to a car park where there's a safe one like the one downstairs here, or it might be somewhere next door.
46:02Even when getting to the car park, people have a tendency, while they wait on the engine to warm up a little bit, their head is in the phone checking text messages, you know, that type of thing.
46:11So I want you to not be, you know, don't be in those kind of habits and remove that opportunity.
46:18Crime, there's an equation for crime.
46:21Motive plus opportunity equals crime.
46:23Very simple.
46:24All right?
46:25And what we need to keep doing as community, as residents, as individuals, is we need to keep trying to do as much as we can to remove the opportunity.
46:37Yes.
46:38Right?
46:39We need to remove the opportunity from the equation.
46:41Because the criminals out there, they have the mindset, they have the wills, the means, everything you would think to commit crime.
46:48We've seen it on a daily basis.
46:50What we control is the opportunity.
46:52It speaks to whether you want to wear a gold chain around your neck and walk down Frederick Street.
46:57Or whether you want to expose your cash, you know, when you're out in public shopping and so on.
47:02Whether you want to buy stuff and leave it on the backseat and go and get more stuff and leave it on the backseat.
47:07You know, go to the beach, leave in a handbag exposed.
47:11Or go to run the savannah, leave in a laptop.
47:14You know, everything that you do that exposes a risk or a threat, the criminals will exploit.
47:20All right?
47:21And therefore, we need to try to remove the opportunity.
47:23And if you do that, there can be or will be no crime.
47:26You raise a very, you know, important point as well there.
47:30You know, a trend that has been emerging for quite some time now when persons go to financial institutions.
47:37And sometimes they leave the financial institutions.
47:40They might stop somewhere before they get home.
47:43And there have been several stories in the newspapers and in the media about persons whose car glasses are broken and money,
47:53sums of money taken that they just went to the bank to withdraw.
47:57And certainly because people are looking and monitoring your movements over a period of time.
48:02Or there's an inside job where somebody at that, if you have a number of persons employed,
48:08they're giving inside information to somebody who's involved in robberies or home invasions as the case may be.
48:14So you really have to exercise a lot of, you know, alertness and situational awareness, as my good friend ASB Pitt would say,
48:24which is extremely important when you're going out anywhere, even before you get to Maui,
48:29when you come out of any kind of institution, grocery, pharmacy, a banking institution.
48:35That's correct.
48:36You know, and I tell people that all the time.
48:38I recall I would have gone to get cash in Trinity, a branch in Trinity Mall.
48:44And, you know, I'm coming out and I'm practicing what I preach.
48:47I'm looking, I'm observing, and you know, it's hard.
48:51It's hard because there are so many cars around.
48:53There are so many people sitting in cars and so on.
48:55So, you know, it's always important that you try to get cash when you can, as early as you can,
49:00in properly crowded areas and so on.
49:03So at least you limit the opportunity that you and the bandit alone end up at the ATM.
49:08All right.
49:09And of course, where the banks are concerned, I know people are concerned where the tellers are giving information and so on.
49:15I don't subscribe to that view, really, because when you go into a bank or institution, you know,
49:20you're standing in line and you have the machine, you know, that machine.
49:24Brrrr.
49:25Yes.
49:26That draws a lot of attention.
49:27Ten seconds of that is about $10,000.
49:29There are people that come and sit there.
49:30They know how to.
49:31So they hear a song and they know it's a lot of money.
49:33And then, you know, and then, I mean, there are some banks that still have signs that will say,
49:38bulk cash teller or commercial teller.
49:41Or once you stand to go in that line, again, it kind of speaks to what you're going in there for.
49:46Yeah.
49:47So somebody just needs to be sitting in the banking hall and they could identify potential targets and so on.
49:52And there are some who are very complacent in terms of how they operate.
49:56So, yes, that's something that they need to look at.
50:01Get to your car safely.
50:02And even though you get to your car and you close it on your locket and so on, don't stop anywhere.
50:06Don't stop to get bread or buy lunch and that type of thing because you'll be putting yourself at risk.
50:11In fact, I would advise business people because a lot of people who convert money to pay wages and so on, on some job site or so.
50:20And I'm saying, you know, where you can, please utilize the cash in transit security teams who are trained for that,
50:30who think your money is insured.
50:32So, you know, so I can't understand why people put themselves at risk for, you know, those kind of deposits when they could probably utilize, you know, a CIT service that will take over the risk and, you know, not have the persons in the fine line like that.
50:49Yes, indeed.
50:50All right.
50:51We're going to take a short break and we'll be back.
50:52Stay with us.
50:53Welcome to Holiday Inn Express and Spice.
51:11Do enjoy Spice.
51:12Thanks.
51:13You want to see coffee?
51:17Can I have a drink?
51:19Perfect.
51:20Perfect.
51:21Perfect.
51:22Perfect.
51:23That's exactly what we need.
51:26Hi.
51:27What was this week?
51:32Whatever you're here for, we're here for you.
51:39Stay smart at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites.
51:49Say goodbye to joint pain with Joint Aid by Aja Nutrition.
51:53Packed with glucosamine, chondroitin, and turmeric.
51:56It helps reduce inflammation, ease pain, and improve joint flexibility.
52:00Available now at Pennywise and leading pharmacies nationwide.
52:19I'm here for you.
54:36All right, Mr. Carmichael, I don't know if you have any parting words for the public in terms of how do you think that the public can better assist crime stoppers in solving crime?
54:50Well, it's simple. Come forward with what you know, all right?
54:53There's ample opportunity for persons who experience crime, who know about it, who are in gangs, persons are sometimes forced into a particular situation and so on. Feel free to come to the program. Tell us what you know.
55:23Share it wherever you can. I mean, we share all sorts of different things. This is something we should share. And if anybody sees the individual, please reach out, contact the nearest police station. Let's get him home tonight.
55:35Yeah, most certainly because, you know, when the elderly go missing, you know, it may not be anything sinister.
55:43No, it will not be. Sometimes maybe it's because of some medical condition or, you know, so at times, you know, that is the onus is to try and find him as soon as possible.
55:54I know that we've had instances where persons went missing for a couple of weeks or days and they were found eventually, if not at the hospital somewhere else, wandering.
56:04But most of the time, somebody that is on some kind of medication that they probably need to take as well.
56:09Yes.
56:09So all of those, you know, nuances come into play when somebody is missing, particularly an elderly, it really beckons us to do as much as we can to locate that individual.
56:19You all get a lot of tips in terms of missing persons.
56:22Yeah, we will. Sometimes it nullifies itself because it's shared around the communities.
56:27Right.
56:28And as the communities share, somebody spot the person somewhere, share it in the chat, contact a relative, get them to go and pick them up and so on.
56:35I mean, dogs, same thing. You see all these missing dogs and dogs that run away and so on.
56:41So the chat is being used very vibrantly to share information, real-time information, and people act on it.
56:48You pull your children inside, lock your doors if it's something dangerous.
56:51You toot your ear horns, that type of thing.
56:53But certainly, it's a nice, simple platform with thousands of people on it to be able to share information in real-time and allow people to act on it.
57:04And, you know, today, with those kind of things in the arsenal for crime fighting and crime prevention,
57:09I am positive that we could make a significant dent in crime and really bring about the kind of change that everyone wants to see in this country of ours.
57:19All right. So, of course, if you are not familiar, you can go on to the Crimestoppers website or you can contact them at 800-TIPS.
57:28And then there's the P3 platform, yes?
57:30The P3 Tips platform.
57:33Where you can also give all your information, I might just want to tell you, is anonymous and nobody will know.
57:40And if the information checks out and it leads to an arrest and later or a find of some sort,
57:47within 21 days of action in that tip, you will be rewarded with $10,000.
57:53All right. We want to thank Mr. Carmichael for his time today.
57:58Repeat tonight at 11.30.
58:01We'll run tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
58:03The TV6 News is up next. Stay with us.
58:20The top stories are brought to you by Flow.
Recommended
58:08
|
Up next
58:05
58:14
58:20
56:35
58:35
58:53
58:14
57:38
58:04
46:27
1:01:53
58:34
29:46
58:17
57:44
58:29
50:38
57:14
58:32
1:03:59
57:26
58:29
58:25
57:29
Be the first to comment