FOUR security firms have been chosen by the National Security Ministry to provide mobile security patrol in various residential areas from April 6 to May 5 in this first instance.
A release on Tuesday from the National Security Ministry stated that they would provide security on a 24-hour basis.
The release stated, “This decision was taken in order to support law enforcement officers by providing further patrols and manpower in predetermined areas.”
The security firms are:
- Allied Security Limited
- Amalgamated Security Services Limited
- Innovative Security Technologies Limited
- Protective Agencies Limited
And in a subsequent release, the ministry stated, “…the patrols being provided by the private security firms have no additional powers outside of their normal powers as private security officers, performing private neighbourhood patrols.”
It stated that the patrols were instituted after consultation with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
The initial release stated: “These companies possess the experience, manpower, technical capacity and competence as well as required information, communications and technology infrastructure to rapidly deploy and sustain the physical presence needed for the duration of their engagement with the Ministry.
“This initiative is being employed in order to enhance the national security response and support recent measures instituted by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 virus. These patrols shall be conducted in residential communities using marked vehicles and shall maintain real-time communications with the National Operations Fusion Centre (NOFC), which is positioned to effectively and efficiently coordinate a rapid, multi-agency response in keeping with the State’s Whole of Government Approach.
“Members of the public are reminded that the current emergency circumstances presented by the Covid-19 pandemic are dynamic and thereby constantly evolving.
“As such, the Ministry of National Security will continue to respond to threats to public safety and order by developing, modifying, escalating and/or de-escalating its response as required. This latest strategy by the Ministry of National Security to engage private security firms, represents one such measure and will effectively increase operational capacity of law enforcement agencies to more swiftly detect and respond to breaches of the law while promoting stricter compliance through public engagement.
“It is to be noted that this initiative will be monitored for quality and its operating parameters adjusted accordingly as necessary.”
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