Trinidad and Tobago Police warn against sharing videos of found missing children

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has issued a warning to the public against circulating videos or images of missing children once they have been located. This directive follows the recovery of a 13-year-old girl who was found in the company of a 49-year-old man. TTPS Communications Manager Joanne Archie stated that while photos are used to assist in safe identification, they should be removed once a person is found to avoid exposing or shaming them, particularly children.

Police statistics for the period of January 1 to September 30, 2026, show 307 missing persons reports, including 135 involving minors. Of these, 283 individuals have been accounted for, including 20 who were found deceased (two of whom were minors). Currently, 24 people remain unaccounted for, including three minors.

Regarding kidnapping-for-ransom, Inspector Jason Phillip reported seven cases in 2026, with all seven hostages safely located and released. This is a slight increase from the previous year.