The Judiciary says it is baffled that police officers yesterday refused to adhere to an old court rule and chose instead not to enter the Arima Magistrates’ Court because they were not allowed to take their service weapons inside.
In a media release yesterday, it said the practice was not new and was implemented in accordance with international best practice years ago.
However, officers who had matters at the court yesterday queried the procedure and eventually refused to enter the court after they were told they would have to be subjected to scans and could not go in with their weapons. This, the T&T Guardian understands, led to confrontations between the officers involved and the court security at times.
In response to that, the Judiciary released a statement saying it could not understand the response, since the existing Judiciary policy, which is implemented at all court locations, prohibits officers who are not on a specific duty from entering court premises with a gun.
It stated: “It has for several years been the practice that persons entering court buildings, including members of staff, are scanned in an effort to limit the entry of dangerous weapons and thereby ensure the protection of all court users.
“The Judiciary is unaware of any concerns regarding this practice that have previously been voiced by members of the Police Service.
“The exclusion of firearms from court buildings is a position arrived at by the Judiciary after examination of international court practice and mature consideration of statistics. These statistics reveal that the majority of shootings within court buildings and courtrooms occur with firearms wrested by perpetrators from the control of police officers.”
After word of the situation spread, vice-president of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association, Insp Roger Alexander, arrived at the courthouse to see if he could calm tempers.
According to sources within the courthouse, some officers, in an attempt to enter the facility with their weapons yesterday, refused to be scanned by security before entering.
Deputy Commissioner (Crime) Glenn Hackett spoke with senior judicial staff members at the courthouse but the situation remained the same and some officers refused to enter the building without their weapons for the entire day, cheered on by colleagues gathered outside the courthouse.
Police sources said yesterday’s situation developed after a senior magistrate gave instructions that armed police officers should not be allowed into the courthouse.
But other police sources claimed a memo had been circulated at the Arima Police Station informing officers not to enter the courthouse with their service weapons so they were confused about yesterday’s confrontation.
Law allows it—Ramesar
The Judiciary’s release said the policy was first implemented several years ago “and we are thus, surprised at recent concerns raised at the Arima Court.”
The release said the Chief Justice had written to the acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams recently, seeking his assistance in reminding officers of the Judiciary’s policy and “no concerns regarding the policy were previously raised either by the commissioner or his officers.” It also added the matter had never been queried before and officers would in the past make arrangements for their weapons when entering the courts.
Contacted last night, however, Williams said he had given a directive on the matter to the Northern Division head in the wake of yesterday’s incident.
“The officers have objected to it and I have since given directives to the Divisional Commander of the Northern Division that no officer under his command is to be subjected to any search to be conducted by any of the security officers at the Arima Court,” he added. He said he did receive a letter from the Judiciary on Friday but it was brought to his intention yesterday. As such, he said he would be having discussions on the matter and would make a statement thereafter.
In a telephone interview with i95 FM yesterday, head of the Police Social and Welfare Association, Insp Anand Ramesar, said the decision was a case of “the tail attempting to wag the dog.”
Ramesar said Section 8 of the Firearms Act allowed his membership to be armed while in the courthouse, adding that the law trumped all policies and there was also an issue with the safety of his members.
He reminded the public that it was swift action by armed police officers at the courthouse that resulted in the apprehension of a murder accused following a killing outside the courthouse last year.
He said his members were not in favour of the policy, adding that he was due to meet with Williams on the issue.