Pellet prices up; Police arrested

Three of the arrested police officers. Photo: Newsday.

For months now, I’ve been suggesting that airgunners stockpile airgun pellets. Well, today I went to one of the cheaper suppliers and the one brand that’s stocked has a price increase of 30%! Needless to say I thanked the cashier and left it at the cash register.

Even though I have a few tins stockpiled in that brand, at the old price, I feel as though I should have bought more. Clearly, the prices of airgun supplies are not included in the government’s latest inflation figures.

What’s in your basket?

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BOY ARRESTED WITH AIRGUN

A 16-year-old boy was arrested in Chaguanas on Sunday night with an air-pistol. The minimum age for owning an airgun in Triniad and Tobago is 18. The report shows up the ignorance of the reporter and editor regarding airguns, and our national airgun laws.

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FOUR POLICEMEN ARRESTED

The four police officers who were caught on camera stuffing $96,000 in cash into their pockets were arrested and released on bail of $150,000 each. They are due back in court on Sept 8.

If police officers are unsure of the conduct that is expected of them while in the service, then here is the list of policing principles, offered by Sir Robert Peel. They are commonly called the Peelian Principles or The Peelian Police Principles.


Principles of Policing

1. The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.

2. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon the public approval of police actions.

3. Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observation of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.

4. The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.

5. Police seek and preserve public favour not by catering to public opinion, but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.

6. Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice, and warning is found to be insufficient.

7. Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent upon every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.

8. Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions, and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.

9. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.

Source: New Westminster Police Service