ATTORNEY WANTS RANDOM DRUG TESTS FOR ALL COPS

A SENIOR attorney yesterday called for the introduction of random drug
testing for all police officers to be included as part of the new
regulations governing the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.

Israel Khan said members from the Police Commissioner to any constable
should subject themselves to periodical tests, as he welcomed the new
measures aimed at weeding out unsuitable people from joining the service.

People with chronic gambling problems should also be debarred from
joining the Police Service, he said.

National Security Minister Martin Joseph, on Wednesday, announced that
candidates aspiring to join the Police Service will have to undergo
polygraph and psychological tests, as well as provide a DNA sample, in
keeping with the new regulations.

He made the announcement during his contribution to the debate on the
Police Service (Amendment) Bill during a special sitting of the House
of Representatives at the Red House in Port of Spain.

The bill required a simple majority, but there were certain clauses in
the bill that dealt with fingerprinting and the creation of a national
database of fingerprints that required a special majority in order to
be passed.

It was eventually passed with 26 votes for the legislation and none
against it.

Khan, a member of the Law Reform Commission, also welcomed the
increase in academic qualification for recruits, and the introduction
of civilians with university degrees to join the senior ranks of the
Police Service.

He said police officers in the Second Division who already had law
degrees should also be promoted to the First Division. The new
regulations, he said, will encourage constables and corporals to take
up part-time courses in order to gain rapid promotion.

"There are hundreds of police officers who are diligent and capable of
efficiently performing their duties, who do not possess five O-Level
passes; but at the same time there are a few officers who cannot spell
or read properly and thus muck up investigations and evidence at
trials," he said.

Khan also made a call for proper death and injury benefits to be
regulated for the men and women who are sworn to protect and serve.