By NALINEE SEELAL Friday, February 2 2007

Police Commissioner Trevor Paul yesterday issued a stern warning to those intent on disrupting Carnival 2007 saying they will be dealt with, and advised that the police have adopted zero tolerance against crime for the season.

“No one will spoil our mas,” declared Paul. “Let me warn those with agendas which would counter the good order...You will not be allowed to disrupt those who are about their lawful business either playing mas, or looking at mas.”

He added that all law-abiding citizens can rest assured that, “(the police) will be watching their backs.”

The Commissioner, the Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Edmund Dillon, and Head of the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT) Brigadier Peter Joseph held a joint press briefing at the Ministry of National Security, Port-of-Spain to announce security plans for Carnival 2007.

Paul said that Carnival will start at 4 am on February 19 and end at midnight on February 20 and the basic strategy to ensure safety will be a massive presence of police and army officers.

“Our basic strategy in providing a safe environment will be our presence, and we will be out there in our numbers, and the presence will be massive.

“You will recognise our officers, but certainly you will not recognise all of them,, but when there is an arrest that is considered trivial we intend to maintain a no tolerance level in treating with all offenders during the carnival events,” said Paul. He added that the police have put in place a command structure which at all times will guarantee command from the strategic to the operational.

“Our operations will be guided by intelligence and we know where we should be and when,” said Paul.

Joseph, who also addressed the media, said that SAUTT will provide technical assistance to the police during the two days of Carnival.

He said that his men and women will also assist with intelligence gathering. Dillon also assured that his officers will provide the necessary support to ensure a crime free Carnival.

He announced that his officers have been trained to deal with members of the public as part of the new thrust in fostering a partnership with citizens.