TTPS QUARTERLY No.1 (1)

Pigeon Point Heritage Park Facility, Pigeon Point, launched
the Tourism Oriented Police Section (TOPS) of the Tobago
Division. This section serves as the arm of the TTPS
dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of tourists
on the sister isle with the main objective being to “reduce
and detect crime” in fulfillment of Strategic Goal #1 of the
TTPS Strategic Plan 2014-2016, ensuring visitors’ time on
the island is memorable and well enjoyed. Based at the
Crown Point Police Station, TOPS started full operations
on Tuesday 1st December, 2015.
The Bicycle Patrol Unit, which was launched under the
auspices of the Tobago House of Assembly in 2002, has
been subsumed under the TOPS.
Since the section began operations in December 2015, the
officers of the TOPS have been working diligently to
prevent crimes against tourists. Data from TOPS reveal
that during the period December 2015 to April 2016, 41
cruise ships docked on the island with an approximated
79,770 visitors coming ashore.
When the cruise liners are in the harbour police visibility is
heightened, specifically targeting places of interest tourists
are known to frequent such as the: - Rain Forests, Argyle
Waterfall, Flag Staff, Cocoa Estate, Botanical Gardens, Fort
George, Pigeon Point Heritage Park, Nylon Pool, Fort James,
and Fort Bennett. This is done in an effort to provide a sense of
security and comfort, allowing
visitors to explore without inhibitions
or seek information from a trusted
source if necessary.
In providing for the general safety
and security of visitors to Tobago,
officers of the TOPS routinely visit
hotels including guest houses, villas
and apartment buildings to ensure
operators are observing, “best
practice”, in terms of security; and to
ensure proper lighting systems and
other security measures are in place.
Safety brochures such as that titled
“Keeping You Safe in Tobago” are
supplied to the management of
these establishments for distribution
to guests as reinforcement of the
message of safety.
Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce Link:
http://chamber.org.tt/articles/tobagos-tourism/
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