Crime fight to go hi-tech

FINANCE Minister Davendranath Tancoo has outlined plans to expand the use of surveillance technology, strengthen border security and increase staffing at the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service (TTFS) as the Government continues its crime-fighting programme.

Presenting the 2027 national budget yesterday in Parliament, Tancoo said the Government would introduce an integrated digital policing platform, expand the use of facial recognition and automatic licence plate recognition technology, and strengthen maritime surveillance and intelligence-sharing capabilities.

The National Security allocation for the upcoming fiscal year was $7.321 billion, making it the third-largest allocation, behind Health at $8.061 billion and Education and Training at $8.033 billion. This would make the National Security allocation the highest it’s been in the last five years.