No charges will be laid against embattled Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher.

Confirmation of this came yesterday from DPP Roger Gaspard SC, who issued a statement saying “The T&T Police Service (TTPS) has ably presented to me a substantial file containing evidence and in light of the serious questions which that evidence has raised, concerning the CoP’s performance of her due diligence functions, I am of the opinion that while this coupled with her granting of the Firearm Import Permit was sufficient to lead to her arrest as a suspect, the evidence present does not reach the required threshold so as to lead to a criminal charge.”

Also issuing a statement is Acting Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin, who welcomed the DPP’s “clear and unequivocal

decision”

The case against Mrs Harewood-Christopher related to allegations of misconduct in public office regarding the issuance of a Firearm Import Permit for two high-powered rifles and accessories intended for operational and

training use by the Strategic Services Agency.

Acting Commissioner Benjamin says the TTPS

investigated whether the Commissioner had wilfully neglected her duty or misconducted herself in granting the permit.

Regarding the DPP’s comment that the evidence presented did not meet the high

legal threshold required for criminal charges, he said the DPP applied the Full Code Test, which evaluates the evidential and public interest stages, and concluded there

was no realistic prospect of conviction for any offense.

Mr Benjamin also thanked the public for its patience adding that the TTPS “reaffirms its dedication to operating with transparency and in accordance with the rule of law.”