THE batch of retired British police officers, who have been contracted by government to work with the elite Special Anti-Crime Unit of TnT (SAUTT) have recently been precepted as Special Reserve Police (SRP) officers.

They have also been given their regimental police numbers and ranks, ranging from Assistant Commissioner of Police to Corporal.

But while the officers have been inducted into the Police Service under the recently passed Police Reform Bill, the legislation is yet to be proclaimed by the President, TnT Mirror has learnt.

“This would not pose a problem because they are not arresting officers,” one cop, however, noted.

DAVID KING, head of the UK team
and Brigadier PETER JOSEPH,
head of SAUTT.

Among the 25 British officers are two female cops, whose ages range between 48-50.

They were given the rank of Corporal.

The other officers, whose ages range between 48-55, have been given the ranks of Senior Superintendent, Superintendent, Inspector, Sergeant and Corporal.

A police source said the head of the UK team of officers, David King, is a retired Senior Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police Service (Scotland Yard).

The British officer appointed ACP of SAUTT to replace ACP Desmond Lambert, who retired earlier this year from the unit, is Armand Delbarre.

Another one of the British cops has also taken up the position of Senior Superintendent, replacing Carlyle Williams, who retired from the ranks a few months ago.

Mirror learnt Delbarre is being paid 10,000 pounds (TT$110,000) a month, in addition to other perks, including housing.

King is being reportedly being paid an almost similar sum.

The wage bill for the 25 officers for a month is reportedly over TT$2 million.

However, Government announced in March this year it will spend an estimated 4.5 million pounds (TT$50 million) per year for the crime-fighting skills of 39 Scotland Yard officers.

This is an average of TT$100,000 a month per officer, which includes salaries and accommodation.

This is in comparison of the $15,000 a month salary for a local ACP.

The British cops are paid in the currency of their country and some officers’ families have been visiting them on a regular basis.

Local cops want to know whether airline passage for the cops’ wives and children is also part of their contract package.

Senior local officers claim they are in the dark about the salaries of the White foreigners and they are hoping that when negotiations start soon for officers in the top bracket, these would be based on what is being paid to the British lawmen.

The unbelievable salaries of these officers are said to be demoralising members of the Police Service, who are now just carrying out their normal duties.

“We do not know anything about these officers.

“We do not see them and the Police Commissioner Trevor Paul does not talk about them,” one senior cop said.

“They do not fall under the Commissioner,” he noted.

The retired UK officers are also given luxury SUV vehicles to use to carry out their duties, which mostly include training of the hand-picked officers of the intelligence-gathering SAUTT, disclosed disgruntled police sources.

It was noted that since these cops arrived in TnT about three months ago, there has been no drop in the escalating murder rate.

However, there has been a decrease in kidnappings and this has been attributed to the fact that most of the kidnappers are in prison awaiting trial.

Officers at the SAUTT unit have been evasive when asked whether King has been appointed ACP.

They said they were awaiting permission from SAUTT bossman Brigadier Peter Joseph or National Security Minister Martin Joseph, who has responsibility for the unit.