Policing the pandemic: public views of the police approach to enforcement of covid-19 public health regulations in Trinidad and Tobago

ABSTRACT

The global lockdown that began in March 2020 as a result of Covid-19 pandemic created numerous challenges for employees and employers, and policing was no exception. As the coercive arm of the state, police officers were asked by governments all over the world to enforce restrictions on the movement of people in an effort to ensure compliance with Covid-19 Public Health regulations. As a result of this increased mandate given to the police, the authors of this article were interested in the impact that the enforcement of Covid-19 regulations had on the relationship between the public and the police in Trinidad and Tobago. With this in mind, a quantitative, online approach was utilized to achieve the study’s goals. The study utilized adult residents of Trinidad and Tobago (n = 1,675) and questioned them on their views regarding the approach taken by members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) in enforcing Covid-19 regulations. The quantitative data were analyzed overall as well as by Police Division, age, ethnicity, and gender. The results indicated overall support for the police enforcement of Covid-19 regulations as well as equitableness in their enforcement of the regulations. Other results and implications for policy are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Policing
• Covid-19 regulations
• enforcement
• public perceptions
• Trinidad and Tobago

Acknowledgments

The authors of this article acknowledge each other for their dedication, hard work and commitment to this study. The authors also acknowledge the 1,675 individuals who participated in the study as well as those who encouraged the authors in the pursuit of the study. To the members of the Association of Caribbean Criminal Justice Practitioners (ACCJP) under whose auspices this study was conducted, we salute and acknowledge you.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Wendell C. Wallace

Dr. Wendell C. Wallace is a lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. His research interests include: policing, gangs, violence (domestic and school), criminal justice systems and issues in education. Dr. Wallace is the 1st Vice President of the Association of Caribbean Criminal Justice Practitioners (ACCJP).

Keel County

Keel County is an experienced researcher with a demonstrate history of working in the higher education industry. Keel is an Executive member of the Association of Caribbean Criminal Justice Practitioners (ACCJP) and a MPhil candidate in Social Police at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Her research focuses on the economic, social and health experiences of undocumented migrant women in Trinidad and Tobago.

Karen Lancaster-Ellis

Karen Lancaster-Ellis is a Ph.D. candidate in Criminology and Criminal Justice at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Karen is also the President of the Association of Caribbean Criminal Justice Practitioners (ACCJP). Her research has been presented at several international conferences as well as published in reputable peer reviewed journals. Her research interests include policing, white collar crime and issues in corrections.