Justice rarely begins where most people think it does.

Long before a matter reaches a Judge or Master of the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago, justice begins quietly — in the responsibility carried by an investigating officer to record the truth with fairness, clarity, evidential completeness, and integrity.

Recognising the importance of these earliest stages of the criminal justice process, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Trinidad and Tobago Multi-Country Office, recently concluded the AJIPA-Compliant Statement Training Programme under the European Union-funded PACE Justice Project — the Partnership of the Caribbean and the European Union on Justice.

Conducted between January and March 2026, the programme represented far more than a technical training exercise. It marked a deliberate, responsive, demand-driven and strategic investment in modernising investigative and prosecutorial practices within the first arm of the criminal justice continuum; the TTPS.

Over six intensive modules, investigators, police legal officers, prosecutors, and trainers from the Police Academy gathered to fundamentally rethink how criminal matters are prepared from the womb of investigation.

Inside the training rooms at the Police Academy, St James, Port of Spain, the sessions moved well beyond theory. The training went to where the officers reside; within the walls of an accredited Police Academy; accredited by the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago. Over 65 officers engaged in practical drafting exercises, mock sufficiency hearings, scenario-based simulations, and difficult conversations about the realities of their important and non-negotiable role in criminal investigations and prosecutorial readiness. They challenged one another, questioned long-standing practices, and worked collectively toward improving the quality of justice delivered to the public.

One of the central ideas woven throughout the programme was what facilitators described as the “jigsaw” approach to justice. Every statement, every exhibit, every piece of forensic continuity, every line of digital evidence — each formed part of a larger evidential picture required to establish a proper prima facie case before the Court.

Throughout the sessions, there was visible commitment among the officers present — a genuine willingness to learn and improve. 

The training addressed critical, modern challenges in law enforcement, from the requirements of Section 21 to the admissibility of viral social media videos. Participants gained a deeper understanding of how to "front load" their work before charging to prevent matters from being discharged for non-compliance. The sessions underscored that digital evidence—if authenticated correctly—is a vital asset for maintaining investigative integrity and securing convictions in an era of evolving judicial standards. More than 65 officers participated in the core training programme, while an additional cohort of approximately 35 officers from the TTPS Police Academy completed a Train-the-Trainer component designed to ensure that the knowledge gained would continue long after the formal sessions ended.

Participants themselves described the experience as transformative.

One officer reflected that the training “brought investigative skills into the 21st century,” particularly through sessions on digital evidence and the admissibility of modern forms of proof such as CCTV footage, mobile phone evidence, and social media content. Another participant noted that the programme helped investigators understand “what would cause statements to be inadmissible,” while reinforcing the importance of thinking beyond simply establishing a prima facie case toward ultimately securing convictions through proper evidential preparation.

One participant captured the spirit of the programme powerfully:

“It’s refreshing to see that this type of evidence has found a place in the judicial system, with the public showing less and less trust in the police. This investigative tool gives investigators another mode of solving and fighting crime, whilst still maintaining the integrity of the investigation and the investigator.”

In conclusion, the integration of the training into the Police Academy curriculum underscores both its credibility and long-term sustainability. The final evaluation further affirmed its success, with most groups assessed as “Sufficiency Ready,” demonstrating the strong legal reasoning and procedural compliance required to confidently advance matters through the Master’s Court without the risk of dismissal or delay.