PORT OF SPAIN – The director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), David West, Friday called on law enforcement officials to wear body cameras as police involved shootings have increased significantly since the start of the year.
Data released by the PCA show that that from January 1 to March 19, there have been 15 police-involved shooting incidents leaving 21 people dead, compared to six incidents and nine dead between January 1 and March 24, last year.
West said that the PCA has not been able to acquire any footage of the police killings so far this year.
“There is a departmental order that mandates police officers to wear body cameras and to turn them on when they go out on patrol and this is not being done and they are not being held accountable by their senior officers when they return.”
Speaking on a radio programme here, West said that he is calling on the Acting Commissioner of Police, Junior Benjamin, “to have a word with his executive to make sure that the police use their body camera effectively and efficiently”.
He said the executive of the Police Service can help deal with the situation.
Meanwhile, the police are yet to release the identity of two people, including a woman, who were shot and killed during the early hours of Friday morning.
Police said that the two were at an apartment on the ground floor of a building at Bamboo Number 3 Boulevard, on the outskirts, and were pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. They gave no further details.
Benjamin has warned that his officers have adopted a “zero tolerance” approach and would maintain this even after the state of emergency (SoE) ends at the end of the month. (CMC)
