BRIGADIER Peter Joseph is being tipped as the front-runner to be the next Police Commissioner.

Sources say that Joseph, who has reached the retirement age of 55 to leave the Defence Force, is in the line-up for the post of Police Chief.

Current CoP Trevor Paul will be retiring from the Police Service next year but he may be going on pre-retirement leave later this year.

Joseph, who is a close associate of National Security Minister Martin Joseph, is head of the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT), which was formed more than a year ago.

The intelligence-driven unit is part of Government’s plan to combat the escalating crime problem but has had little success so far.

Brigadier PETER JOSEPH ...
close associate of National
Security Minister MARTIN
JOSEPH.

Under the recently passed Police Reform Bill, which was brokered between the government and the Opposition, the appointment of a Police Commissioner and other top ranks can come from either inside of the Police Service or from the Defence Force.

Even retired foreign police officers can take up senior posts in the Police Service.

Sources say the government wants to make some changes in the Police Service and is considering a number of options.

Despite all the initiatives Security Minister Joseph is taking, crime continues on an upward trend with murders and robberies.

But kidnappings have taken a drastic drop compared to the past two years.

On Wednesday, the Minister Joseph launched another crime plan -- the 555 Anti-crime Initiative -- for the public to provide information to the police.

In addition to the 555 direct line, there is 999 Rapid Response and Crime Stoppers.

Although the minister said the “555” is a secure and confidential telephone line, callers may be reluctant to give any information for fear of being identified.

Phone users have a fear that their lines could be tapped and that could be a stumbling block for the police.

“People do no trust talking on their phones today,” the source said.