Visiting Police Forces
Current Authorised Pages
Pages Authorised

(inclusive) by L.R.O.
1–8 ..

VISITING POLICE FORCES ACT

CHAPTER 15:07

Act
9 of 2007

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

L.R.O.UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

Note on Subsidiary Legislation
This Chapter contains no subsidiary legislation.

2 Chap. 15:07 Visiting Police Forces

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

Visiting Police Forces Chap. 15:07 3

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

L.R.O.

CHAPTER 15:07

VISITING POLICE FORCES ACT

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION

1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Application.
4. Schedule—Designated States.
5. Rights, powers and privileges.
6. Immunity from prosecution.
7. Jurisdiction of Courts in designated States.
8. Arbitration.
9. Claims against visiting police force.
10. Ships.
11. No proceedings lie where compensation payable.
12. Tax and other exemptions.
13. Driver’s Licences.
14. Act to bind State.

SCHEDULE.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

CHAPTER 15:07

VISITING POLICE FORCES ACT

An Act to provide for the presence, activities, privileges and
immunities of members of visiting police forces and
civilian personnel and for related matters.

[23RD MARCH 2007]

1. This Act may be cited as the Visiting Police Forces A c t .

2. In this Act—
“civilian personnel” means civilian personnel designated under

section 4 as a civilian component of a visiting police force;
“dependant”, with reference to a member of a visiting force or to a

member of the armed forces of a designated State, means the
wife or husband of such member, or any other person wholly
or mainly maintained by him, or in his custody, charge or care;

“designated State” means a State designated under section 4;
“Police Service” means the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service

established under section 4 of the Police Service Act;
“Member State” means a Member State of the Caribbean

Community;
“Minister” means the Minister to whom responsibility for

national security has been assigned;
“Treaty on Security Assistance” means the Treaty on Security

Assistance Among CARICOM Member States concluded at
Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis on 6th July, 2006 including
any amendments or protocols thereto;

“visiting police force” means the members of any police force of
a designated State present in Trinidad and Tobago on
o fficial duties.

3. This Act applies to visiting police forces and civilian
personnel—
(a) of designated States; or

4 Chap. 15:07 Visiting Police Forces

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

9 of 2007.

C o m m e n c e m e n t .

Short title.

Interpretation.

Ch. 15:01.

Application.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

Visiting Police Forces Chap. 15:07 5

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

L.R.O.

(b) who are present in Trinidad and To b a g o
pursuant to the provisions of the Treaty on
Security Assistance.

4. (1) The countries listed in the Schedule are designated
States for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Minister may by
Order—
(a) designate any country as a designated State for

the purpose of this Act;
(b) declare the extent to which this Act is applicable

in respect of any designated State; and
(c) designate civilian personnel as a civilian

component of a visiting police force.

5. Subject to section 6, a member of a visiting police force
who is sent to Trinidad and Tobago for the performance of police
duties shall, while on duty in Trinidad and Tobago be deemed to
be a police officer for the purposes of this Act and shall have the
same rights, powers and privileges as are conferred on members
of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service by the Police Service
Act or any other law.

6. All members of visiting police forces shall enjoy
immunity from the criminal and civil jurisdiction of Trinidad and
Tobago in the performance of their official duties.

7. (1) Where a member of a visiting police force is alleged
to have committed an offence in respect of—
(a) the property or security of his designated State;
(b) another member of the visiting police force or

his property; or
(c) the performance of his official duty,

the Courts of the designated State to which that member of the
visiting police force belongs shall exercise jurisdiction in respect
of the offence.

Schedule—
Designated
States.

Rights, powers
and privileges.

Ch. 15:01.

Immunity from
prosecution.

Jurisdiction of
Courts in
designated
States.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

(2) Where a dependant of a visiting police force is
alleged to have committed an offence in respect of paragraphs (a)
and (b) of subsection (1), the Courts of the designated State to
which that dependant of the visiting police force belongs shall
exercise jurisdiction in respect of the offence.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1) (c), the
Commissioner of Police shall certify whether a member of a visiting
police force was acting in the performance of his official duties.

8. (1) Where there is disagreement between the
Commissioner of Police and the visiting police force as to
whether a member was acting in the performance of his official
duties, an arbitrator shall be appointed by agreement between the
designated State concerned and Trinidad and Tobago from among
the nationals of Trinidad and Tobago who hold or have held high
judicial office.
(2) If the designated State and Trinidad and Tobago are
unable, within two months, to agree upon an arbitrator, either the
designated State or Trinidad and Tobago may request any person
referred to in an agreement with the designated State or
acceptable to the designated State and Trinidad and Tobago to
appoint the arbitrator from among the nationals of Trinidad and
Tobago who have held high judicial office.

9. Subject to section 10, for the purposes of the State
Liability and Proceedings Act—
(a) a tort committed by a member of a visiting

police force while acting in the course of his
official duties shall be deemed to have been
committed by a servant of the Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago while acting in the course
of his official duties;

(b) property owned, occupied, possessed or
controlled by a visiting police force shall be
deemed to be owned, occupied, possessed or
controlled by the Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago; and

(c) a service motor vehicle of a visiting police force
shall be deemed to be owned by the Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago.

6 Chap. 15:07 Visiting Police Forces

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Arbitration.

Claims against
visiting police
force.
Ch. 8:02.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

Visiting Police Forces Chap. 15:07 7

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

L.R.O.

10. Section 9 does not apply to a claim arising out of or in
connection with the navigation, operation or salvage of a ship or
the loading, carriage or discharge of a cargo, unless the claim is
a claim arising out of death or injury to the person.

11. No proceedings lie against the State by virtue of section 9,
or against any member of a visiting police force who is deemed a
servant of the State under section 9, in respect of a claim by a
member of a visiting police force, his personal representative or a
dependant, arising out of the death or injury to the member, if
compensation has been paid or is payable by a designated State, or
out of any funds administered by an agency of a designated State
for the death or injury.

12. (1) A visiting police force may import into Trinidad and
Tobago free of Customs duty and any tax, equipment for the
visiting police force and such quantities of provisions, supplies
and other goods for the exclusive use of the visiting police force.
(2) No tax or fee is payable in respect of the licensing
or registration of service vehicles of a visiting police force or
in respect of the use of those vehicles on any road in Tr i n i d a d
and To b a g o .
(3) No Customs duty or tax is payable on any fuel, oil or
lubricants intended for use exclusively in the service vehicles,
aircraft or vessels of a visiting police force.
(4) Within six months of his first arrival to take up duty
in Trinidad and Tobago and within six months of the first arrival
of any dependant to join him, a member of a visiting police force
shall import free of Customs duty and any other tax—
(a) his personal effects and furniture; and
(b) the personal effects and furniture of his

dependants.
(5) The salaries and emoluments paid to members of
visiting police forces by their designated States are exempt
from taxation.

Ships.

No proceedings
lie where
compensation
payable.

Tax and other
exemptions.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

13. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 42 of the
Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, a member of a visiting
police force shall not be required to hold a driver’s licence issued
under that Act, and may drive a service vehicle on any road in
Trinidad and Tobago if he is the holder of a valid driver’s licence
issued under any law of the designated State to which he belongs.

14. This Act binds the State.

SCHEDULE
DESIGNATED STATES

1. Member States of the Caribbean Community
2. Associate Members of the Caribbean Community
3. South Africa
4. Canada
5. United Kingdom
6. France
7. The Netherlands Antilles
8. Australia
9. India
10. Sri Lanka
11. Bangladesh

8 Chap. 15:07 Visiting Police Forces

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Driver’s
Licences.
Ch. 48:50.

Act to bind
State.

(Section 4).

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt