There’s a new app in town- the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) announced a new option for the public to inform the police of crime and other incidents, and vice versa.
During the weekly media briefing held at the Police Headquarters today, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said the app is part of the “see something, say something” strategy which allows public to share information with the TTPS in real time. He said this is all part of efforts to bridge the gap between the Service and citizens.
The app also renders immediate assistance for those needing the police’s help in serious matters such as domestic violence through its SOS feature. With the push of a button, users can alert police and up to five emergency contacts immediately when faced with grave danger. The user’s name, phone number and immediate GPS location will be shared with police and emergency contacts ONLY when the user activates the ‘SOS’ feature.
It should be noted that abuse of this feature and wasting police time is a chargeable offence.
According to the Criminal Law Act Chapter 10:04 Section 6(2), perpetrators are liable on
conviction to a fine of one thousand dollars ($1000) and imprisonment for six (6) months.
In a press release issued by the TTPS, the main purpose of the App is to provide greater accessibility to the population. Through information gathering, the Police can turn information into intelligence. The App aims at increasing public safety awareness, provide real time updates, and enhancing police-citizen partnership to aide in decreasing criminal activity. This App is only available within Trinidad and Tobago to allow for persons within the jurisdiction to easily access the TTPS and Emergency Response Services.
TTPS APP TECHNOLOGY TOOLS
- All messages are received by the Operational Command Centre and dispatched to
the ERP and relevant Police Stations and Units. - TTPS Contact Availability- A complete list of police stations along with their
telephone contacts and addresses linked to their Google Maps location, is available on
the App. Direct-dial contact numbers for other first responders and crime agencies
are also available. - Crime Reporting- By using the ‘Report Crime’ button on the App, users have the option to send messages and share photographs with police, whether anonymously or not, that will be used to solve and detect crimes.
- Emergency Alerts- Once the App is downloaded, users will receive emergency alerts on their devices even if mobile data is not enabled, BUT ONLY when they pass by certain data points across the country.
- When someone registers as ‘Anonymous’ users’, personal information and location cannot be accessed by the TTPS.
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