By RHONDOR DOWLAT Wednesday, March 26 2008

POLICE were kept very busy ensuring law and order over the long Easter weekend. In four police divisions, over 1,809 tickets were issued for various traffic offences while over 223 persons were arrested for such crimes as rape, robbery, possession of illegal narcotics and possession of arms and ammunition.

In the North-Eastern Division, according to Snr Supt Errol Denoon, over 800 tickets were issued and over 105 persons arrested during a series of police exercises that took place throughout the division which includes area such as: Barataria, San Juan, Morvant, Maracas, Blanchisseuse and Santa Cruz.

In the Northern Division, 559 tickets were issued, 111 warrants issued and 102 persons arrested for various offences. Of these, 47 were arrested on outstanding warrants, 29 on narcotics offences – five of which included firearm offences. Tickets totalling 471 were issued to motorists who illegally used the Priority Bus Route.

This particular exercise along the Priority Bus Route was led by Snr Supt Maharaj. In the Eastern Division, 388 tickets were issued and one person arrested and charged for arms and ammunition, who police said, has six previous charges for the same offence. Three vehicles were seized as their respective drivers failed to produce a Certificates of Insurance. Among these was a 17-year-old boy who claimed his uncle gave him the car to drive.

The exercise was conducted along the Valencia Stretch, Toco Main Road, Cumana Village, Manzanilla and Mayaro. It was led by Snr Supt Ulana Julias and supported by Supt Leroy Chalarie, Insp Neville Sankar, Sgts Ken Lutchman and Ken Rampersad, PC Manickram and other officers.

In the Central Division, officers including Central Divisional Task Force and Chaguanas CID executed seven road blocks throughout the Division, which included five field traffic exercises.

Officers issued a mere 62 tickets and arrested 15 persons, one of whom was arrested for rape. The exercise was led by Snr Supt Rattan Singh and ASP Stephen Ramsubhag.