Beckles demands clarity on body cameras during special police operations

Beckles Demands Clear Government Position on Police Body Cameras Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles-Robinson has called on the government to state clearly whether it supports the use of body-worn cameras by police officers, arguing that the public deserves certainty as Parliament considers expanded police powers under the Special Operations Bill, 2026. During her contribution to the debate, Beckles-Robinson focused on provisions allowing police officers conducting special operations to search places and vehicles within closed areas without a warrant where the required legal threshold is met. She said safeguards surrounding those powers are particularly important, pointing to parliamentary oversight, judicial scrutiny and protections governing searches. Beckles-Robinson then turned to body-worn cameras, saying their use is an important issue for members of the public. She referred to comments made by the Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander, who was questioned earlier about whether officers would be required to wear body cameras during special operations. Beckles-Robinson said the government’s position should not be ambiguous. “This government should make it abundantly clear to the public what is their policy on body cameras. It is either they agree with it or they do not agree with it,” she told Parliament. She argued that Trinidad and Tobago has been “tiptoeing” around the body-camera issue for a long time and said the proposed legislation makes clarity even more important. Beckles-Robinson also referred to previous problems involving body-camera equipment and challenged the government to disclose whether new cameras have been ordered. “Tell us whether you have ordered body cameras,” she said, noting that body-worn cameras are contemplated within the legislation. She argued that because the Special Operations Bill contains a two-year sunset provision, citizens should know exactly how the government intends to approach the use of body cameras while the legislation is in force. Beckles-Robinson concluded by challenging the government’s reliance on comparative crime statistics, saying statistics alone are not enough to determine whether its crime-fighting measures are working. She said the more important question is whether members of the public actually feel safer under the measures being implemented.