THERE exists a Department Order No 139 dated July 22nd 2008 issued to all members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).
It is something called the TTPS “One Door Policy”. This policy states that any member of the public may make a report or statement at any police station or to any police officer, anywhere.
All officers are mandated to:
Record, at least, the arrival of the person at the station or interaction;
Take the person’s report or statement; and
Ensure that the matter is addressed or forwarded for attention to the relevant station.
The policy further states that members of the public are not to be turned away or sent to another station.
Since this One Door Policy came into being, I have heard several reports of persons being turned away at certain police stations and told to go to another to make their report. Some complained that when they told the officer of this One Door Policy, the response was that they would still have to go to the other station to make the report all over again, so they might as well just go to the other station.
The above One Door Policy makes it clear that the onus on ensuring the matter is addressed and forwarded to the relevant police station is on the Police, not the person making the report. Inasmuch as a citizen is turned away on the grounds of duplicate work for the Police, this would seem to be a ground for lodging a complaint with the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).
The PCA is an independent body set up by the State under the Police Complaints Authority Act, Chapter 15:05 to keep watch over the police. The PCA investigates criminal offences involving police officers, police corruption, serious police misconduct and other related matters. Upon the conclusion of an investigation, section 44 of the Act gives the PCA the power to recommend whether consideration should be given to prosecute any person for a criminal offence, to invoke disciplinary proceedings against any person and to make recommendations for the taking of other action that the PCA considers appropriate.
The PCA itself had recently embarked on an educational campaign to make the public aware of their rights. Via a public post on Facebook on May 15, 2017 the PCA clarified: “The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service “One Door Policy” means that ALL reports made to ANY police station, whether that station is concerned or not are to be recorded immediately and passed to the appropriate station.” “All reports” include road traffic accident reports.
The PCA further indicated the public is justified in taking the relevant police officer’s badge number and making a complaint to the PCA if the officer refuses to comply with the One Door Policy.
Perhaps if enough persons lodge complaints with the PCA over the alleged failure of some police officers to take their statement or report, they may be able to effect a substantial change in their behaviour. Know your rights and be safe Trinidad and Tobago.
Disclaimer:The contents of this article are for general informational purposes only and/or contain the opinions and/or thoughts of the writer only. It does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader. For legal advice on your specific situation, please contact an Attorney-at-Law of your choosing directly. Liability for any loss or damage of any kind whatsoever allegedly incurred a consequence of relying on content in this article is thus hereby excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Know Your Right: TTPS One Door Policy
THERE exists a Department Order No 139 dated July 22nd 2008 issued to all members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS).
It is something called the TTPS “One Door Policy”. This policy states that any member of the public may make a report or statement at any police station or to any police officer, anywhere.
All officers are mandated to:
The policy further states that members of the public are not to be turned away or sent to another station.
Since this One Door Policy came into being, I have heard several reports of persons being turned away at certain police stations and told to go to another to make their report. Some complained that when they told the officer of this One Door Policy, the response was that they would still have to go to the other station to make the report all over again, so they might as well just go to the other station.
The above One Door Policy makes it clear that the onus on ensuring the matter is addressed and forwarded to the relevant police station is on the Police, not the person making the report. Inasmuch as a citizen is turned away on the grounds of duplicate work for the Police, this would seem to be a ground for lodging a complaint with the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).
The PCA is an independent body set up by the State under the Police Complaints Authority Act, Chapter 15:05 to keep watch over the police. The PCA investigates criminal offences involving police officers, police corruption, serious police misconduct and other related matters. Upon the conclusion of an investigation, section 44 of the Act gives the PCA the power to recommend whether consideration should be given to prosecute any person for a criminal offence, to invoke disciplinary proceedings against any person and to make recommendations for the taking of other action that the PCA considers appropriate.
The PCA itself had recently embarked on an educational campaign to make the public aware of their rights. Via a public post on Facebook on May 15, 2017 the PCA clarified: “The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service “One Door Policy” means that ALL reports made to ANY police station, whether that station is concerned or not are to be recorded immediately and passed to the appropriate station.” “All reports” include road traffic accident reports.
The PCA further indicated the public is justified in taking the relevant police officer’s badge number and making a complaint to the PCA if the officer refuses to comply with the One Door Policy.
Perhaps if enough persons lodge complaints with the PCA over the alleged failure of some police officers to take their statement or report, they may be able to effect a substantial change in their behaviour. Know your rights and be safe Trinidad and Tobago.
Copyright © 2022 Neela Ramsundar, LLB (HONS), LEC is a Civil Litigation Attorney at Law & Certified Mediator.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for general informational purposes only and/or contain the opinions and/or thoughts of the writer only. It does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader. For legal advice on your specific situation, please contact an Attorney-at-Law of your choosing directly. Liability for any loss or damage of any kind whatsoever allegedly incurred a consequence of relying on content in this article is thus hereby excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.