The Police Service Commission was established in accordance with Section 122 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Members of the Commission are appointed by the President after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in accordance with Section 122 (2) and (3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Secretariat provides administrative and clerical support services to the Police Service Commission and is headed by the Director of Personnel Administration and managed by an Executive Director, Human Resource Management. The office of the Executive Director, Human Resource Management also performs the role of Secretary to the Commission.

Section 123 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago gives the Police Service Commission the power to:

• appoint persons to hold or act in the office of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police;
• make appointments on promotion and to confirm appointments;
• remove from office and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in the offices specified in paragraph (a);
• monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the discharge of their functions;
• prepare an annual performance appraisal report in such form as may be prescribed by the Police Service Commission, respecting and for the information of the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Police; and
• hear and determine appeals from decisions of the Commissioner of Police, or of any person to whom the powers of the Commissioner of Police have been delegated, in relation to appointments on promotion or as a result of disciplinary proceedings brought against a police officer appointed by the Commissioner of Police.

For the purpose of subsection 1 (d):

• the Commissioner of Police shall, every six months, submit a report in writing to the Police Service Commission on the management of the Police Service; and
• the Police Service Commission shall have the power to call on the Commissioner of Police to produce documents pertaining to financial, legal and personnel matters in relation to the Police Service.

The role and mandate of the Commission may involve some jurisdictional overlap within the wider responsibilities of governance, therefore, through appropriate consultation, the Commission conducts its affairs within the limit of its constitutional mandate. In executing its mandate, the Commission is required:

• to select and appoint the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in accordance with Legal Notice No. 218 of 2015 and Legal Notice No. 219 of 2015.
• to submit to the President a list of names of the persons nominated for appointment to the offices of Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police.
• to appoint the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police after the House of Representatives approves the President’s notification.
• to remove from office and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in the offices of the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police.
• to regularly and consistently monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the functions of the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police.
• to exercise an appellate function over the decisions of the Commissioner of Police or his delegate.
• to terminate the services of the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police.
• to make Regulations to regulate its own procedure.

The Police Service Commission is guided by the regulatory framework of the Police Service Act 2006 and the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

In the exercise of its discretion, the Commission must conform with the Police Service Commission Act of 2006 and the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Section 122 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago states:

There shall be a Police Service Commission for Trinidad and Tobago which shall consist of a Chairman, and four other members.

The members of the Commission are appointed by the President, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, who nominate individuals who are qualified and experienced in the disciplines of Law, Finance, Sociology, or Management, to be appointed as members of the Police Service Commission.

The Police Service Commission Secretariat serves and communicates with the following stakeholders: