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B Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report CTENTH ANNUAL REPORT 2019|2020

2 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 3ContentsLetter to the Minister Director’s Remarks 5Our Purpose and Our Operations 9Financial Report 12Organizational Chart 13The Human Resources Department 14The Information Technology Department 15The Communications Department 16PCA ECO Team 18 20The Complaints Process 23Advocate Attorney 25Legal Counsel, Compliance and Complaints Unit 26 31PCA Domestic Violence Campaign 97In Remembrance 99 100Proposed Amendments to the Police Complaints Authority Act 104The Audited Financial Statements 106 114 127The Police Complaint Authority’s Complaint Form 129

4 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report

6 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportOur Annual Report illustrates the PCA’s continued expansion and describes the key activities undertaken during the period under review, October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020. The statistics presented herein show how our work contributes to the objective of ensuring accountability of police ocers for conduct which amounts to serious police misconduct, police corruption and criminal conduct.The pandemic forced the world to adapt to a “new” normal. I would like to thank the Deputy Director, Michelle Solomon-Baksh for her support during this dicult period and extend my appreciation to our Sta for their team work and professionalism, while adjusting to the challenges of lockdown and the new ways of living and working. Our sta has demonstrated a deep commitment to the principles of Civilian Oversight and the national community can rest assured that this collective cause remains unimpeded by the pandemic. Civilian Oversight of the police provides an invaluable, independent function, even more so at a time when increasing public condence in the justice sector is a national priority.Despite the challenges, we are looking ahead with optimism and condence in the strength of our institution, especially as on December 29, 2020, the Authority will achieve the milestone of one decade since its establishment. The foundation of the institution was laid by its rst Director and Deputy Director, Justice of Appeal Gillian Lucky and Master of the High Court, Master Ralph Doyle. Their vision established the PCA nationally, as an important arm of the justice system that gives individuals the right to an independent resolution for all complaints of criminal oences involving police ocers, police corruption and serious police misconduct.

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 7The activities of PCA 2019-2020, at a glance•  Reports received, investigations and conclusions: These cases included seven hundred and twenty-one (721) initial reports (IRs) from members of the public. Of these IRs, three hundred and ninety-six (396) were assessed as within remit. Four hundred and eight (408) matters were completed, inclusive of matters received during previous reporting periods. Of these matters completed, eight (8) were forwarded to the oce of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), fty-two (52) were forwarded to the oce of the Commissioner of Police (CoP), thirteen (13) were forwarded to both oces of the CoP and DPP and in eight (8) matters advice was rendered to the CoP on ways in which to eliminate police corruption and serious police misconduct. •  Ocer involved shootings during the period under review as compared to the previous period (October 1st 2018 to September 30th 2019): The increase in the number of ocer involved shootings recorded by the PCA for the period under review is a signicant concern and focus of our work. We recorded fty (50) police shootings and the gure of non-fatal ocer involved shooting is twenty-six (26). In comparison, the numbers for the previous period were 35 and 22, respectively. For the Period under review, the number of victims in fatal ocer involved shootings was sixty-ve (65) and in non-fatal ocer involved shootings the victims totalled twenty-seven (27). These numbers for the period October 1st 2018 to September 30th 2019, were 50 and 28, respectively.•  Records and Information Management Systems: This crucial project ensures the integrity of the evidence gathered and improves the, timeliness and quality of our work, a key strategic priority. The PCA is currently in the process of implementing a more ecient Records and Information Management System. •  Increasing public condence: The strategy to increase public condence in the work of the PCA involves a range of initiatives that includes improving ease of public access to our complaints system. Our PCA mobile app has been downloaded over 2,686 times on Android devices as well as 357 times on IOS devices. This digital platform proved its usefulness especially during the Country’s lockdown period of the pandemic, when citizens were unable to make in-person reports.

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 9The Police Complaints Authority Act 2006 (“the Act”), proclaimed on January 1, 2007, repealed the Police Complaints Authority Act, 1993 (“the former Act”), which provided for complaints against police ocers to be sent by the (then) Police Complaints Authority to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, (TTPS) for investigation.The Act of 2006 distinctively established the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) as an independent corporate body mandated, among other things, to investigate complaints within its remit without the involvement of the police.FUNCTIONSThe PCA is given extensive functions by virtue of Section 21(1) of        police corruption and serious police misconduct;(b) To undertake enquires into, or audits of, any aspect of        there is police corruption or serious police misconduct or circumstances that may be conducive to both;(c) To monitor an investigation conducted by any person or authority in relation to any matter mentioned in paragraph (a) and to undertake audits of those investigations;OUR PURPOSE AND OUR OPERATIONS

10 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report(d) To advise the Police Service and other public authorities on may be eliminated;(e) To gather evidence that may be admissible in the prosecution in relation to the Police Service and to furnish that evidence outside the State is concerned, the Attorney General;(f) To gather evidence that may be used in the investigation of serious police misconduct and furnish such evidence to the Commissioner of Police or the Police Service Commission for appropriate action;(g) To gather evidence that can be used in the prosecution of a evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions; or (h) To perform any other functions that may be conferred on it INDEPENDENCEBy Section 19 of the Act, the Authority is not subject to the direction or control of any other person in the performance of its POWERSFor the purpose of the performance of its functions, Section 22 (1) of Enquiry as provided for under the Commissions of Enquiry are exercisable by:(a) the Director or Deputy Director personally;          Authority to conduct an investigation; or         the general or special instructions of either the Director or 

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 11The Act also provides for the Authority to conduct investigations ANNUAL REPORTSection 20 (1) of the Act imposes a statutory obligation on the Authority to submit to the Minister1 an annual report of its                This Report features the activities of the Authority for the period AUDITED ACCOUNTSFinancial Statements the accounts of the Authority be audited annually by the Auditor The preparation of the Financial Statements of the Authority for          The Report of the Auditor General on the Financial Statements and laid in Parliament by the Attorney General and Minister of A Financial Report on the receipts and expenditure of the PCA for 1 By section 6 of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Ministry of Justice) the Police Complaints Authority is assigned;”

Deputy DirectorDirectorHead of Legal Counsel,Compliance & ComplaintsSenior Legal OfficerComplaints TeamLegal Counsel &Compliance TeamsHead of InvestigationsSenior Investigations OfficerInvestigations TeamsHead of OperationsFinance and Accounts TeamThe AuthorityHuman Resources TeamInformation Technology TeamAdministrative TeamStatisticianCommunications TeamAdvocate Attorney

14 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportThe Human Resources (HR) Department supports the Authority and its employees through leadership, service and excellence in organizational factors and enabling and ensuring sustainable value creation in various areas such as the development of      training and development, performance management and RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION                        Legal Counsel, Compliance and Complaints Unit, Finance and Accounts Unit, Investigations Department and Information TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT                            • Leadership In Excellence• Freedom of Information• Mastering Emotional Intelligence • Deaths in Custody: A Comprehensive International Conversation • Taxation • Emerging Leaders ProgramTHE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 15UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY (UPS)  FINANCE SOFTWARE  OPERATING SYSTEMS      PRINTERSCLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV)        ENDPOINT PROTECTION       TELECOMMUNICATION The PCA enhanced its Telecommunications plan to better assist COMMUNICATION PLATFORM THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

16 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportCOMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENTThe role of the Communications Department is to manage,                       also undertakes communications planning, media relations, advertising, publications, press releases, community outreach continued its focus on maintaining the PCA’s digital media presence SOCIAL MEDIA to its stakeholders, including, but not limited to members of the            COMMUNITY OUTREACHThe Community Outreach Programme is designed to educate                  a community based on the feedback provided by its members   pandemic, the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago issued the THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 17POLICE OUTREACHinvited to speak to trainees at the Trinidad and Tobago Police • Ethics in policing;• Ethical Violations;• Ethical Dilemmas;• Gratuities in Policing;• Perception;  trainees in order to elicit their feedback on issues surrounding                          make reports to the PCA and that all ensuing investigations are PCA Team conducting outreach to Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Trainees at the TTPS Training Facility, St. James.

20 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportService Excellence and Innovation in the Public Sector in Trinidad       of Trinidad and Tobago and invited applications from across the         The Authority led a team comprising the Head of Legal Counsel, Compliance and Complaints, Information Technology Administrator, Communications Coordinator and Human Resource        required to deliver a presentation before a panel of esteemed           IDB 2019 PRESIDENT’S AWARDS FOR INNOVATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ….PCA wins People’s Choice Award

26 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportTHE LEGAL COUNSEL, COMPLIANCE AND COMPLAINTS UNIT       While the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) is a unique body, its distinctiveness has not insulated it from this commonly                   has been impacted by the transformation of the landscape in certain regions of Trinidad and Tobago appeared to have a         Due to the pandemic, the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and                                   through alternative modes of communication environment of formidable and seemingly, unrelenting challenge The LCCCU admirably discharged its responsibilities of:  in order to assist the Investigations Department in obtaining documentary evidence and information;         complaints;  -Achievement in a time of adversity-

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 27 serious police misconduct;             the appropriate disposition of matters;   policies; and       During the period under review the LCCCU:                matters to the CoP for consideration to be given to the                       

28 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report (DPP) for consideration to be given to the prosecution of                                              duty, commitment, professionalism, creativity and motivation of  elevate our performance in order to assist the Authority in the 

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 29The Complaints Classication and Rating Guidelines utilized by the PCA for criminal oences, police corruption and serious police misconduct by and/ or involving a police ocer.DEFINITION OF A COMPLAINT:In accordance with Section 4 of the Police Complaints Authority Act, a Complaint includes an allegation of:-• Police corruption;• Serious police misconduct;  PURPOSE:The Authority classies complaints by the level of seriousness and/or urgency in order to:-        useful information and comparable data; and CLASSIFICATION OF A COMPLAINT:The Authority classies a complaint on a scale of 1-5 with:-  • Where there is more than one alleged infraction in a complaint, the most serious allegation is utilized in the AUTOMATIC CLASSIFICATION 5:A complaint can automatically be classied as 5 in two ways:-                           complaint;COMPLAINTS CLASSIFICATION AND RATING GUIDELINES

30 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportAutomatic Classication 5: Serious Nature of ComplaintA Complaint as dened below is automatically classied as 5, namely:-• Fatal Shooting;         • Death in Police Custody (including instances of hanging       violence); and Automatic Classication 5: Urgent Nature of Complaint        demands urgency; and• A complaint of high national, regional or international importance;DEFINITION OF POLICE CORRUPTION – By Section 4 of the Police Complaints Authority Act-“Police Corruption” means an act done with an intent that is illegal, dishonest or fraudulent or failing to act in order to receive an advantage or reward, whether nancial or otherwise, personally or for another person, group or organisation, or exercising a legitimate discretion for improper reasons, or employing illegal means to achieve approved goals;AUTOMATIC CLASSIFICATION 4:• Police Corruption;     the Dangerous Drug Act;DEFINITION OF SERIOUS POLICE MISCONDUCT- Under Section 4 of the Police Complaints Authority Act-“Serious Police Misconduct” means the commission of a disciplinary oence under the Police Service Regulations which the Authority considers to be so serious as to bring the Police Service into disrepute.

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 31INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT INTRODUCTION        four (24)       of investigations including intelligence, homicide, crime          considerable experience in investigations acquired during their         in some instances, second degrees in various areas of study                 linkages to the Police Training College in Hendon, England, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement disciplines of Digital Photography, Crime Scene Management, Due to the pandemic, the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and              

32 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report       overcome by deploying creative measures to maintain optimum (408) matters completed, eight (8)   (52)       The Investigations Department shall continue to exemplify superior performance in the exercise of its duties in a manner 

050100150200250300350400450Not within RemitWithin Remit396341

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 39050100150200250300350400450500255340470491321 3202844204123962017-20182018-20192019-20202016-20172015-20162014-20152013 - 20142012 - 20132011 - 20122010 - 2011Figure 3: Represents the Numerical Increase/Decrease in Complaints received over the reporting periods December 29, 2010 – September 30, 2020.No of complaints

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 41A graphical representation comparing the frequency of complaints Figure 4051015202019-20202018-2019SepAugJulJunMayAprMarFebJanDecNovOct14%18%19%7%6% 6%10% 10% 10%8%12%12%8%8%8%6% 6%4%0% 0%9%9%5% 5%Figure 4: Percentage of Complaints received by month for the periods October 1, 2018 - September 30, 2019 and October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020.

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 43Figure 5: Method of Receipt of Complaints by Number for the period October 1, 2019 - September 30, 2020..030609012015056541211223184PCA Initiated In PersonMobile ApplicationEmailMail Hand DeliveredIncident Report FormPCA Website

Newspaper Stakeholder ReportsFacebook and otherSocial MediaTelevision/Radio1%5%18%76%

46 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportPort of SpainTobagoSouth-WesternSouthernCentralWesternNorth-EasternNorthernEasternFigure 7: Map of Trinidad and Tobago showing Police Divisions In this report, complaints received during the period (9) • Northern• Central• Port of Spain (POS)• Southern• • Eastern• Western• Tobago• Figure 7. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO POLICE DIVISIONS

051015202523%15%11% 11%10%7%7%6%5% 5%

54 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportFigure 9: Status of Complainant by Percentages for the period October 1, 2019- September 30, 2020.1+++VictimNot victimPCA Initiated Anonymous complainant

22719511056932518181411980 50 100 150 2008 Alleged Officers9 Alleged Officers11 Alleged Officers7 Alleged Officers6 Alleged Officers18 Alleged Officers5 Alleged Officers4 Alleged Officers3 Alleged Officers2 Alleged Officers1 Alleged Officer

AfricanEast IndianMixedHispanic Unknown0102030405034%43%14%24%9%13%12%50%0%1%Male Female

01020304050Unknown65 to 7554 to 6443 to 5332 to 4221 to 3110 to 20 > 10FemaleMale0% 0%9%21%20%9%5%8%3%34%3%4%10%18%45%12%

050100150200250300350No allegation assignedAllegation assigned FemaleMale333667285214

0306090120150180Unknown Rank*ConstableCorporalSergeantInspectorAssistant SuperintendentSuperintendentSenior SuperintendentCommissioner of PoliceDeputy Commissioner of Police28 3983040101113125168316880Allegation assigned No allegation assigned

0102030405060No allegation assignedAllegation assignedUnknown*ConstableCorporalSergeantSuperintendent540 0024 31610

01020304050No allegation assignedAllegation assignedUnknown Rank*ConstableCorporalSergeantInspector20 0112122541

80 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report++9Figure 24: Criminal and Disciplinary Oences by Percentage for the period October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020.(457)        (87)        Table 14 on page 57 (48)        (30)     and nine (9)For the purposes of the following section, the ‘unknown number of police ocers’ for each complaint, will be counted as one (1) ocer. Therefore, as investigations continue the total number of police ocers will change.

82 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportFigure 25: Criminal Oences and Number of Police Ocers for the period October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020.0 50 100 150 200Firearm OencesOther OffencesFraud and CorruptionDamage to PropertyLarceny and Related OffencesFirearm OffencesFatal and Non-FatalSexual OffencesAssault17912796413631242

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 87Figure 26: Allegations of Disciplinary Oences and the number of police ocers under investigations for the period October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020.0 50 100 150 200 250 300Using any property or facility of the Service withoutthe written consent of the CommissionerDrunkenness or drug takingDrinking on duty or soliciting drinkBreach of ConfidenceBeing uncivil to a member of the publicInsubordinate or Oppressive ConductBeing an accessory to a disciplinary offenceFalsehood or PrevaricationCorrupt PracticeDisobedience to OrdersUnlawful or unnecessary exercise of AuthorityNeglect of DutyDiscreditable Conduct

88 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportFigure 27              (396) complaints received      (241) A single complaint may contain multiple categories of Criminal       (241) complaints involving       (137) fell under   amounting to one hundred and one (101)CRIMINAL OFFENCES AND NUMBER OF COMPLAINTSFigure 27: Criminal Oences and Number of Complaints for the period October 1, 2019 to September 30, 202013710176302416227241620 30 60 90 120 150Sexual OffencesDamage to Property Larceny and Related OffencesFraud and Corruption Firearm Offences Fatal and Non Fatal Assault Other offences Other oences 137Assault 101Fatal and Non Fatal 76Firearm Oences 30Fraud and Corruption 27Larceny and Related Oences 24Damage to Property 16Sexual Oences 2Number of complaints

92 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportFigure 28 (396) complaints received      (360) DISCIPLINARY OFFENCES AND NUMBER OF COMPLAINTSA single complaint may be assigned multiple categories for Of the three hundred and sixty (360) complaints involving       (221)                 (153)

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 93Figure 28: Disciplinary Oences and Number of Complaints for the period October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020.0 50 100 150 200 250Using any property or facility of theService without the written consent of the CommissionerDrunkenness or drug takingDrinking on duty or soliciting drinkBreach of ConfidenceBeing uncivil to a member of the PublicBeing an accessory to a disciplinary offenceInsubordinate or Oppressive ConductFalsehood or PrevaricationCorrupt PracticeDisobedience to OrdersNeglect of DutyUnlawful or unnecessary exercise of AuthorityDiscreditable Conduct221153149342264322221Number of complaints

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 95‘UNKNOWN’         submission is by email, post, fax or mobile application, the                                        and gender may not be available to the PCA in these  A complaint may be vague, for example, a report of               to provide the Rank, Regimental Number or Gender for each  If no further details are discovered during the investigation, demographic details for the alleged victim or the Police          

96 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report          victim, the age, ethnicity and gender of the alleged victim may not readily be available at the outset of the investigation,          provides accurate contact information for the alleged victim,          retrieved from the relevant individuals resulting in such data  at an early stage of the complaint process, information on                    the course of the investigation, this information may remain                              initiative, the information as it relates to demographic data on 

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 97             This series proposed three outreach sessions designed to invite public consultation on our functions as they relate to the referrals         • Students of the University of the West Indies Trinidad;• Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Gender Based Violence and          Faculty of Social Sciences hosted a seminar entitled “Bits of             audience via a brief skit performed by the Drama Making A             Director of the PCA featuring current statistics and informative data advising audience members of their rights as it relates to        PCA LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

98 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 99IN REMEMBRANCE

104 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportPROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY ACT, CHAPTER 15:05        considers to be so serious as to bring the Municipal Police                         back into same so that disciplinary investigations and         PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ACTS WHICH AFFECT THE PCA’S MANDATE PCA can submit its investigative materials to this Court       

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 105 potential issues of inadmissibility of evidence obtained by the PCA by audio visual means;                    (iv) The Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago                 for investigation any report of suspicious transactions by a     thereof, so that the Authority can be listed among the         

106 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportTHE POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITYFINANCIAL STATEMENTS

114 Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual ReportLAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRSPOLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY ACTCHAPTER 15:05ActCurrent Authorised Pages Pages Authorised  

ANACTto amend certain enactments to providefor the vesting of functions and powers in theMinister of Justice[Assented to 7th June, 2011]ENACTEDby the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago asfollows:1 . This Act may be cited as the MiscellaneousProvisions (Ministry of Justice) Act, 2011.EnactmentShort titleFirst Session Tenth Parliament Republic of Trinidad and TobagoREPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGOAct No. 12 of 2011[L.S.]

Passed in the House of Representatives this 4th dayof February, 2011.Clerk of the HousePassed in the Senate this 31st day of May, 2011.Clerk of the SenateNo. 12 Miscellaneous Provisions (Ministry of Justice) 2011 3

Independent Police Complaints Authority’s Tenth Annual Report 129