PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Leader of the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) in Trinidad and Tobago, Pennelope Beckles, on Tuesday called for the government to “immediately” amend legislation to improve the powers and investigatory procedures of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).

In a statement, Beckles, an attorney, said the PCA should be modelled on Jamaica’s Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), “which will allow features such as on-scene site evidence preservation and access by PCA personnel immediately upon the occurrence of police killings.”

INDECOM is a civilian-led law enforcement oversight body responsible for undertaking independent investigations into actions by members of Jamaica’s security forces, both police and military, as well as other agents of the state that result in death, injury, or abuse of rights.