Lead Editor-Politics
Police are putting a greater emphasis on social intervention and tackling the root causes of student violence, as new police data shows reported fights involving schoolchildren have increased from 27 in 2025 to at least 36 so far this year.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration) Junior Benjamin said the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is analysing the figures to identify patterns, including where fights are occurring, as officers increasingly find that confrontations are moving away from school compounds and onto surrounding streets.
Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, Benjamin said this could eventually require greater police visibility along routes used by students, but stressed that the TTPS does not see increased enforcement as the primary solution.
Instead, he said police intend to deepen engagement with at-risk students, parents, teachers and principals to understand what is driving violent behaviour.
“It’s about really assessing what is the real heart of the problem and addressing those concerns,” Benjamin said.
He said police have observed cases where disputes begin online between students from different schools before escalating into physical confrontations when the groups meet.
Benjamin said intervention must therefore extend beyond policing and into students’ homes.
“These youths are coming from homes,” he said, adding that parents must take their “rightful place” in correcting problematic behaviour.
He said the TTPS wants officers to focus on “visibility, prevention, engagement” and enforcement only when necessary, arguing that the objective should not be to criminalise children but to steer them towards becoming productive citizens.
Benjamin also defended the Police in Schools initiative, rejecting the suggestion that the increase in reported fights meant the programme was failing.
He said greater police engagement in schools could actually be contributing to increased reporting, as incidents which previously went unreported are now reaching officers.
The statistics show mixed trends across school-related offences.
While reported fights increased from 27 to 36, weapons possession rose from six to eight cases and vaping increased from 20 to 30.
However, Benjamin said there were declines in several other categories. Assaults linked to bullying fell sharply from 16 cases in 2025 to six so far this year, while police also recorded declines in gambling and other offences.
Benjamin cautioned that the police figures differ from Ministry of Education statistics because they represent incidents reported directly to police stations or community policing officers and can include incidents occurring both inside and outside schools.
He was also asked to weigh in on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s recent controversial back-to-school message that disruptive students who cannot be controlled should be sent home.
Benjamin said there must be room for discipline and “tough love” in schools.
However, he cautioned against disciplinary measures leaving children with a negative view of education or pushing them towards criminality.
“They can make a mistake. A mistake should not be one that will cause them to have a lifestyle of crime,” Benjamin said.
He also backed the principle of holding parents accountable for their children’s behaviour, as the Government considers legislation aimed at imposing greater responsibility on parents when their children engage in wrongdoing.
Benjamin said that while the precise form of any legislation would have to be carefully considered, parental accountability was important.
He said the TTPS ultimately hopes its combination of data analysis, prevention, social intervention and targeted enforcement will reduce violence and create a safer environment for students during the new academic year.
REPORTED SCHOOL-RELATED INCIDENTS
OFFENCE: 2025 2026
Fighting: 27 36
Vaping: 20 30
Weapons: 6 8
Assault by bullying: 16 6
