An investigation is to be launched into the beating of patrons at the Panorama semifinals on Sunday, public information officer of the Police Service, Sgt Wayne Mystar, said yesterday.

"The officers acted in an appropriate manner and acted lawfully. ...We will do all within our power and within the confines of the law to ensure that law and order is maintained," Mystar said at the daily press briefing held by the police in Port of Spain.

Head of Mounted and K-9 Unit, Snr Supt Wayne Dick, yesterday told the Express in a telephone interview some police officers have been undergoing training for the past two weeks to deal with crowd control, both for the Carnival season and the rest of the year.

Dick, whose unit makes up part of the Public Order Team, said he was not there on Sunday but saw footage and interviewed a few of his subordinates who were at the Queen's Park Savannah. He said from what he gathered, the crowd maintained its cool while the officers on horses were present but when the mounted officers left around 5:30 p.m. the crowd became rowdy.

Dick said mounted officers would be staying "all the way possible up to dark" as it was advised that horses not be out after dark.

Meanwhile, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has yet to receive any official complaint arising out of the allegations of police brutality.

Police allegedly used batons and their fists to beat patrons around 3.30 p.m., after hundreds tried to push past barriers because they were blocked from walking between the North Stand and the Greens. Four people have claimed they were victimised by police.