(Trinidad Express) The Judiciary says that one of its Court security officers was arrested by a police officer who refused to subject himself to the scanner before being allowed into the Mayaro Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The security guard was detained for several hours at the Mayaro Police Station, and it took the intervention of Police Commissioner Gary Griffith to resolve the issue.
In a statement on Tuesday morning, the Judiciary said that Court Security Officers assigned to other Courts also reported being threatened with arrest by police officers in the coming days for requiring police officers to be scanned were also of grave concern.
“The Judiciary has been informed this morning of the issue of a departmental order by the police commissioner which eliminates all doubt as to the procedure to be followed by police officers who seek to enter Court buildings.
The Judiciary considers it necessary to point out that the Judiciary Security Unit was formed in the year 2002 at the request of and with the support and assistance of the then Commissioner of Police and the Police Service as the police were no longer able to dedicate the number of police officers required to protect and man the courts. At that time, policies and procedures were developed jointly and continue in existence to this day.
The Judiciary considers it necessary to point out that the policies with regard to scanning of all entrants to court buildings without exception is accepted international best practice adopted for the safety of all Court users”.
The Judiciary said it was grateful for the assistance and support given today by the Police Commissioner and his Deputy “in light of what was a most unfortunate and trying occurrence”.
