Behind the protocols which may or may not have been broken in the contracting of a light aircraft for the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service lies a deeper policy question: is this really an effective crime-fighting strategy? The much-ballyhooed blimp seemed to make no difference to an escalating crime rate, with the best defence then-national security minister Martin Joseph could offer being that things would have been far worse without the airship.

Deputy Police Commissioner Jack Ewatski, in a statement yesterday, gave some specific figures on the benefits of helicopter air support, noting that "Rapid response to reported crimes in progress resulted in the apprehension of 178 suspects, the seizure of firearms, ammunition and narcotics." However, no other details, such as dates or the outcomes of the arrests, were provided. But the main purpose of Mr Ewatski's statement was to deny that his interaction with Daniel Condon, the director of the company that is supplying a light aircraft to the TTPS, had anything to do with the relevant contract. According to Mr Ewatski, he was only getting in some flying hours at his own expense in order to meet requirements for his private aviation licence.

However, e-mails between Mr Condon and one of his colleagues suggest that the company's directors were relying on their networking with Mr Ewatski to help them get the contract. Mr Ewatski writes in the passive voice that "enquiries revealed" the existence of the company and that "discussions took place" between said company and the TTPS to acquire the aircraft.

Who exactly negotiated what will no doubt emerge as the Police Service Commission looks into this issue. What is not in doubt, however, is that Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs has committed a portion of the TTPS budget for this aircraft. Already, over $900,000 has been spent for 720 hours of flying time for, according to Mr Ewatski, "evaluation purposes only". That works out to just under $1,300 an hour which, assuming a similar rate in the contract, would cost the TTPS over $10,000 every eight-hour day to use this aircraft.

The previous PNM administration squandered hundreds of millions of dollars on high-tech toys which made no apparent dent in crime. Criminological studies also suggest that visibility of police officers is a more crucial factor in preventing and detecting crime. Since most serious crimes, especially murder, occur within densely populated urban areas, it is difficult to understand how a light aircraft is going to help apprehend perpetrators who can easily go to ground in narrow alleys and accessible houses.

That, then, is the core question Commissioner Gibbs must address: is this approach a cost-effective strategy for reducing crime, especially in this guava season economy?