00:00Former Police Commissioner Gary Griffith says the government should reconsider how it deploys police resources under its plan for 30
00:08new posts.
00:09Speaking by telephone to TV6 News, Griffith argues that mobile patrols could provide greater visibility and a faster response to
00:17incidents.
00:18The reason why mobile patrols would be more effective is that, again, mobile patrols are utilized as an avenue for
00:25high visibility, a rapid response and a heavy deterrent.
00:29Griffith says an effective 999 system supported by an operational commander center could help police identify the location and the
00:37urgency of calls and dispatch the nearest available vehicle.
00:41We had an effective 999 system. The call will be made. You then have an operational command center.
00:47You'll be able to use the screen to pinpoint where that distress call is, be able to prioritize the distress
00:53call,
00:53and then look at the number of police vehicles in closest proximity to that distress call to be able to
00:59pinpoint that vehicle to respond.
01:01The police service has 1,700 vehicles. The majority of them should be used for operational purposes. They are not.
01:07The former top cop says vehicles strategically positioned across police divisions could help reduce response times to under five minutes.
01:16But he says deployment must be matched by systems to measure performance and hold officers accountable.
01:22What is required is that we need to put systems to measure performance, make police officers accountable, and to provide
01:29systems, as I said, to ensure that rapid response, to ensure that deterrent.
01:33A police post has never and could never be used as an avenue for that.
01:37He warns that putting more officers inside fixed posts could mean fewer on the streets responding to calls.
01:44Griffith says the issue is not simply building more police posts, but ensuring officers are visible, mobile, and responsive.
01:51Shala Kistel, TV6 News.
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