Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTOFSPAIN1080
2006-09-15 20:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Of Spain
Cable title:
T&T HOMICIDE BUREAU CHIEF: DEPORTEES NOT MAJOR CRIME
how-toVZCZCXRO4939 RR RUEHGR DE RUEHSP #1080 2582011 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 152011Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7344 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 001080
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, INL/LP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCRM TD
SUBJECT: T&T HOMICIDE BUREAU CHIEF: DEPORTEES NOT MAJOR CRIME
SOURCE
UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 001080
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, INL/LP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCRM TD
SUBJECT: T&T HOMICIDE BUREAU CHIEF: DEPORTEES NOT MAJOR CRIME
SOURCE
1. In an extended interview with the daily Trinidad Guardian
newspaper on September 12, Head of the Homicide Bureau, Assistant
Commissioner of Police Maurice Piggott discussed many of the current
shortfalls in T&T's policing efforts and the steps that the police
force is taking to rectify the situation. In the interview, ACP
Piggott corrected the widely held notion that criminal deportees
from the U.S. contribute significantly to the rising crime rate in
T&T. He noted that, while deportees do commit crimes "because that
is their trade," they do not contribute in a major way to crime in
T&T. He also noted that "very few" head gangs in T&T and that they
generally commit more sophisticated crimes, such as those involving
ATM machines-"That New York kind of thing." This response is so
unusual to the prevalent thinking that the reporter's follow-up
question was to clarify that ACP Piggott truly meant criminal
deportees, and not deportees in general.
2. COMMENT: The criminal deportee issue continues to surface in
the media and pervade the public consciousness. We find it
refreshing that a senior police officer took the opportunity in a
major interview to use facts to refute this misconception. ACP
Piggott has been chosen to participate in the April 2007 IV program
on U.S. foreign policy and counter-terrorism. Post recommends that
the Department arrange a meeting with him while in Washington in
order to further share information. END COMMENT.
AUSTIN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, INL/LP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCRM TD
SUBJECT: T&T HOMICIDE BUREAU CHIEF: DEPORTEES NOT MAJOR CRIME
SOURCE
1. In an extended interview with the daily Trinidad Guardian
newspaper on September 12, Head of the Homicide Bureau, Assistant
Commissioner of Police Maurice Piggott discussed many of the current
shortfalls in T&T's policing efforts and the steps that the police
force is taking to rectify the situation. In the interview, ACP
Piggott corrected the widely held notion that criminal deportees
from the U.S. contribute significantly to the rising crime rate in
T&T. He noted that, while deportees do commit crimes "because that
is their trade," they do not contribute in a major way to crime in
T&T. He also noted that "very few" head gangs in T&T and that they
generally commit more sophisticated crimes, such as those involving
ATM machines-"That New York kind of thing." This response is so
unusual to the prevalent thinking that the reporter's follow-up
question was to clarify that ACP Piggott truly meant criminal
deportees, and not deportees in general.
2. COMMENT: The criminal deportee issue continues to surface in
the media and pervade the public consciousness. We find it
refreshing that a senior police officer took the opportunity in a
major interview to use facts to refute this misconception. ACP
Piggott has been chosen to participate in the April 2007 IV program
on U.S. foreign policy and counter-terrorism. Post recommends that
the Department arrange a meeting with him while in Washington in
order to further share information. END COMMENT.
AUSTIN