00:00The TTPS is reporting strong interest in its latest recruitment drive, with roughly 9,100 applications being received.
00:08Acting Senior Superintendent Richard Taylor says many applicants have qualifications above the minimum requirements.
00:14Under the government's five-year recruitment plan, the police service is expected to grow from 7,884 persons to 10
00:22,200 officers, with 2,360 new recruits being targeted.
00:28Taylor said the academy's capacity and the quality of training would therefore be critical.
00:35He said recruit training currently lasts six months, followed by field training and a two-year probation period.
00:43However, Taylor acknowledged that training at the police academy cannot guarantee how officers will conduct themselves once they enter operational
00:52policing.
00:53We must remember that officers have split seconds to make a decision, which the court then has a period of
01:00time to sit and decide whether or not the decision the officers made at that time was prudent.
01:07So, something that can be done and will be reinforced going forward is that continued retraining.
01:14Taylor said between 5,000 and 8,000 officers had undergone training over the past five years, covering areas including
01:23use of force, de-escalation, dealing with members of the public, customer service and investigative skills.
01:31He said retraining was a continuous process aimed at reinforcing what officers were taught at the academy.
01:37The issue takes on added importance as police prepare to exercise powers under the new special operations legislation.
01:46ASV Awe Russell said officers given those powers must understand the limits of their authority and how they are expected
01:54to use them.
01:55The special operations legislation reinforces what we already know.
02:01Officers given new powers must be equipped to use them lawfully, fairly and most importantly with restraint.
02:11That is why the act makes training in human rights, use of force, community engagement and conflict de-escalation a
02:22requirement before any officer takes part in any special operations.
02:27Russell says the TTPS has already developed a plan to implement the legislation and integrate the new powers into its
02:35crime-fighting operations.
02:37Meanwhile, Taylor confirmed that all recruits are being trained to use body-worn cameras before leaving the police training academy,
02:46although he acknowledged that the cost of equipping officers remains a challenge.
02:52Well, yes, I want to say yes. However, body cameras cost. They cost.
02:58And I think the reason why every officer at this point in time is not outfitted with a body camera
03:05is because of the cost of outfitting them.
03:08But yes, all officers are being trained. I mean, they come to the academy to use the body cameras.
03:14Meanwhile, ASV Russell said policing was already moving beyond waiting for members of the public to formally report certain offenses.
03:22He says the TTPS cybercrime unit monitors social media and can launch an investigation if officers identify material that appears
03:31to involve a criminal offense and is deemed to be in the public interest, even if the victim has not
03:37made an official report.
03:39TTPS has a cybercrime unit that already monitors social media.
03:44So once we see something that is indeed in public interest and an offense, we take front and we do
03:51commence an investigation.
03:53Russell said the ability to proceed to court would depend on whether a virtual complainant was required to provide evidence.
04:00He said where an offense could be charged without the complainant, police would prefer to proceed.
04:06But where specific evidence from that person was required, the matter would depend on the person's willingness to provide a
04:13statement.
04:13As the TTPS prepares to expand its ranks and take on new policing powers, the Police Training Academy says the
04:22challenge will be ensuring that increased manpower is matched by consistent training, ongoing retraining and adherence to professional standards.
04:33Alexander Broussoul, TV6 News.
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