High Court Advocates Mandatory Body Cameras for Police Accountability

High Court Calls for Mandatory Body Cameras for Police
A High Court judge has urged the mandatory use of body cameras by police officers in Trinidad and Tobago, emphasizing the need for accountability within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS). Justice Frank Seepersad made this call in a ruling favoring Elton King, a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, who successfully sued the State for wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution.
In his judgment, delivered yesterday, Justice Seepersad expressed serious concerns about the erosion of public trust in the TTPS, describing the situation as “disturbing and deplorable” in a country facing rampant lawlessness. He noted that recent statistics indicate public confidence in the police has fallen below 10%.
Justice Seepersad awarded King a total of $100,000 in damages—$75,000 in general damages and an additional $25,000 in aggravated damages—along with his legal costs. King was represented by attorney Sallian Holdip.
The case arose from an incident on April 15, 2020, when King was allegedly stopped by PC Marvin Burke after the officer claimed he saw King change lanes illegally, nearly causing a collision. However, Justice Seepersad accepted King’s account, which stated that he had slowed down to avoid an accident while the traffic light was green.
The judge found Burke’s behavior unprofessional and ruled that King was entitled to record the interaction on his cellphone. The court dismissed Burke’s claim that King had assaulted him by pushing the phone into his face, stating that the evidence did not support such an assertion.
Justice Seepersad criticized the actions of the police, noting that after King attempted to report Burke’s conduct at the police station, he was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer, disorderly behavior, and dangerous driving. These charges were later dismissed due to a lack of prosecution.
In his ruling, Justice Seepersad highlighted the need for a review of police accountability laws, emphasizing that the current system fails to protect citizens. He called for the mandatory use of body cameras, stating that contemporaneous recordings provide the best evidence and protect all parties involved. Until such measures are implemented, he urged citizens to utilize cellphones and CCTV cameras to record police encounters.
“The curbing of crime requires public cooperation,” Justice Seepersad said, stressing the importance of a positive relationship between the police and the community. He condemned the “appalling failure” of TTPS leadership to address the disrespectful interactions between officers and citizens.
Asserting his commitment to protecting citizens’ rights, Justice Seepersad declared that violations of authority by police would not be tolerated. He reiterated that the police’s mandate is to protect and serve, not to persecute and subjugate.

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