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| Jack Warner orders ban on publication of Trinidad crime statistics | Jack Warner orders ban on publication of Trinidad crime statistics |
| (4 months later) | |
| Trinidad's national security minister, Jack Warner, is seeking to ban the release of crime reports and statistics, saying that publicising such information encourages people to commit more offences. | Trinidad's national security minister, Jack Warner, is seeking to ban the release of crime reports and statistics, saying that publicising such information encourages people to commit more offences. |
| "They want to make news, they want to make headlines," said Warner, a former Fifa vice-president. "I decided with immediate effect that no figures of any kind will be given anywhere ... I've also instructed the police not to reveal any figures on murders anywhere, anytime." | "They want to make news, they want to make headlines," said Warner, a former Fifa vice-president. "I decided with immediate effect that no figures of any kind will be given anywhere ... I've also instructed the police not to reveal any figures on murders anywhere, anytime." |
| Warner resigned from his post with football's world body in June 2011 to avoid investigation into a bribery scandal tied to the Fifa presidential election, but has denied wrongdoing. He oversaw North American and Caribbean football for almost three decades. | Warner resigned from his post with football's world body in June 2011 to avoid investigation into a bribery scandal tied to the Fifa presidential election, but has denied wrongdoing. He oversaw North American and Caribbean football for almost three decades. |
| Many people were surprised in June when he was appointed national security minister. Shortly afterward, Warner was condemned for dispatching troops and riot police to remove a protest camp built by environmentalists. | Many people were surprised in June when he was appointed national security minister. Shortly afterward, Warner was condemned for dispatching troops and riot police to remove a protest camp built by environmentalists. |
| His move to prevent the release of crime reports comes as Trinidad struggles with a rising murder rate. The independent police service commission said it was taken aback by the order and would discuss it at an emergency meeting. The commission appoints the police chief and oversees disciplinary actions. | His move to prevent the release of crime reports comes as Trinidad struggles with a rising murder rate. The independent police service commission said it was taken aback by the order and would discuss it at an emergency meeting. The commission appoints the police chief and oversees disciplinary actions. |
| The acting police commissioner, Stephen Williams, said he had not received any orders from Warner and would continue to respond to requests for crime information from the media and the public. | The acting police commissioner, Stephen Williams, said he had not received any orders from Warner and would continue to respond to requests for crime information from the media and the public. |
| "The matter of dissemination of information to the public is one which I believe the police service has a legal obligation to fulfil, and we will in fact be fulfilling our legal obligation," Williams said. | "The matter of dissemination of information to the public is one which I believe the police service has a legal obligation to fulfil, and we will in fact be fulfilling our legal obligation," Williams said. |
| Banning the release of crime information "is not a matter which the minister has authority to instruct the commissioner of police on", he added. | Banning the release of crime information "is not a matter which the minister has authority to instruct the commissioner of police on", he added. |
| Warner did not immediately respond to Williams' comments. | Warner did not immediately respond to Williams' comments. |
| Thousands of Trinidadians criticised Warner's decision via social media and radio, accusing him of violating the country's freedom of information laws. Some called for his resignation. | Thousands of Trinidadians criticised Warner's decision via social media and radio, accusing him of violating the country's freedom of information laws. Some called for his resignation. |
| "We need to keep abreast of social matters. How else would we know whether or not there has been an improvement? The public must not be kept in the dark with regard to the stats," said one resident, Sparkle John. | "We need to keep abreast of social matters. How else would we know whether or not there has been an improvement? The public must not be kept in the dark with regard to the stats," said one resident, Sparkle John. |
| Jhivan Pargass said he did not like to hear about the "sickening stuff" of murders, but it was still important for citizens to learn about crimes. | Jhivan Pargass said he did not like to hear about the "sickening stuff" of murders, but it was still important for citizens to learn about crimes. |
| "Yes, I need to know. Everyone needs to know and has a right to know exactly what nefarious acts occur in their own country and precisely when. It's simply part of being cognizant of events," he said. | "Yes, I need to know. Everyone needs to know and has a right to know exactly what nefarious acts occur in their own country and precisely when. It's simply part of being cognizant of events," he said. |
| Warner also drew fire for blaming the opposition People's National Movement in the killing of a man who was shot nearly 30 times on Tuesday in Laventille, south-east of the capital, Port of Spain. "This could be avoided if the PNM weren't sponsoring crime," Warner said without elaborating. | Warner also drew fire for blaming the opposition People's National Movement in the killing of a man who was shot nearly 30 times on Tuesday in Laventille, south-east of the capital, Port of Spain. "This could be avoided if the PNM weren't sponsoring crime," Warner said without elaborating. |
| Nielung Hypolite, an MP who represents the region where the killing occurred, called Warner's statements irresponsible and said the political movement had always fought against crime. | Nielung Hypolite, an MP who represents the region where the killing occurred, called Warner's statements irresponsible and said the political movement had always fought against crime. |
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