Pubdate: Sun, 03 Apr 2005
Source: Trinidad Express (Trinidad)
Copyright: 2005 Trinidad Express
Contact:  http://www.trinidadexpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1093
Author: Hayden Mills
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

COPS EYE 'HOT-SPOTS'

"TELL them the rude boys from Beverly Hills say we go blow them up, yeah, 
fire burn them!"

This came from one young man as he and other youths were in the middle of a 
card game on the steps of one of the wooden apartments, while they spoke 
with the Sunday Express about the police/army centre to be erected in their 
area.

They were smoking marijuana and lamented that they would be unable to do 
this freely when the cops moved in.

"You can't smoke a piece ah weed, or cigarette self, when they come, it 
will be worse," said one youth.

One man who wanted to be called 'D' said: "If they hold somebody for weed, 
is best they hold somebody for plenty weed."

"Beverly Hills don't want no war with nobody," D added.

On Friday Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul, at a media conference, 
presented a plan to have police/army centres set up at three "crime hot 
spot" areas in an effort to stem the country's crime wave.

The centres will be on Charlotte Street near the bpTT Renegade's panyard; 
in the Basilon Street Community Centre at East Dry River; and in a Beverly 
Hills apartment at John John.

Police already have regular patrols in these areas.

A young man who identified himself as David Samuel, of Beverly Hills, said 
of the planned centre: "Is if it will work? Some (police) officers who 
patrolling now, some of them making the rounds and roughing up the wrong 
set of people."

When asked if he thought it would make a difference, he said: "It will slow 
it down a little but it can't stop crime. Me, I don't know what could stop 
crime. Everything outta hand right now."

Sandra Lee, another Beverly Hills resident, added: "I don't mind police and 
them in the area but a better approach (is needed) with dealing with the 
youth in the area.

"They does come high on drugs and rum and they does tell you they don't 
want you outside at eight o'clock when they come back. "

One man, who did not want to give his name, said the police were brutal and 
accused them of breaking into apartments without warrants.

He rationalised: "When this young fellah (pointing to youth) see police 
beat up he brother, when he get big, is what he thinking? Not to buss a cap 
in they a?"

Another group of young men at the end of the alley also complained of 
police harassment, even as they passed a 'joint' around.

An army jeep entered the area and remained for about five minutes and they 
all dispersed.

Residents at Charford Court and Basilon Street were more welcoming but 
still wary.

"It is good!" Chantel Smith of Building D in Charford Court blurted out. 
"Yes. Very good," Stacey Cupid of Building B agreed.

They said since the police patrols they have been feeling more comfortable.

"Nobody don't gamble in front your door and smoke weed in the corridor for 
it to affect my child," Cupid said, "and I don't have to come out and cuss 
nobody."

But with the police patrols, the area has become "dead". People rarely come 
out, they said.

She continued: "But some of them (police officers) like to come for dreadness.

"They better take care when they shooting and people sleeping inside."

A police/army centre is already in existence at the Basilon Street 
Community Centre.

It has been operational for the past two weeks according to Wendell James, 
32, and his friend Anthony Mitchell, who were liming at a corner near the 
community centre.

Both Mitchell and James welcome the venture.

But James said: "It have some of them that still need some training."

He continued: "They need some domestic training to deal with the people in 
the ghetto. As they see you, you is a murderer, is a thief, giving you gun 
butt in your face. This is direct to those Task Force (officers).

"People come outside dey door, it could be five o'clock and they telling 
you to go inside," Mitchell complained.

But added: "People glad that they around, because whoever walking around to 
shoot and rob staying away."
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D