00:00The Hunter Search and Rescue team led by Shamsuddin Ayube is now at the center of a police investigation
00:06after the team leader recorded and posted a 13-year-old girl who had been missing for over 25 days
00:13whom they had found in the company of a male adult.
00:17While some have applauded Ayube and team for their continued service,
00:21many have criticized the tone of the interaction and the decision to publicize the girl's identity.
00:28She went missing for 25 days. Today's 26 days, the mother begging for she to return home.
00:35And she was nowhere to be found, but now we found her and we are called the police.
00:40Shortly thereafter, the group posted that the man in question, the alleged stepfather, had gone missing.
00:47Meantime, the TDPS is urging the public to protect the identity of minors.
00:52We acknowledge the commitment of community organizations and we thank the Hunter Search and Rescue team
00:58for the support they had given us in the past.
01:00However, we are deeply concerned about this video because it identifies a child in circumstances
01:06that may form part of our investigation.
01:09When we publish photographs of missing children, it is for one purpose only, to help us find them.
01:15Once a child is found, that purpose ends.
01:18Continuing to publish their image, their name, or any detail that may identify them
01:23exposes that child to stigma, trauma, and further harm.
01:28The police is reminding persons that the publication or sharing of such material
01:32constitutes a criminal offense.
01:35I want to remind the public that the identity of any child
01:39who is the subject of a police investigation is protected by law.
01:44Publishing or sharing any material that may lead to identification of that child
01:48can constitute a criminal offense, whether it is done by traditional media,
01:53social media users, or any person who reports such content.
01:57I can tell you that this matter is being investigated.
02:01The child is safe and is receiving the appropriate support
02:04and we are working closely with the Children's Authority of Children and Tobago.
02:08We are therefore calling on all persons and organizations to remove the video
02:13and to refrain from sharing it any further.
02:15This matter has our full attention.
02:18Renasa Cutting, TV6 News.
