Records prior to 1990 were destroyed when police headquarters was gutted by fire, but have been largely recreated using prison, court, and other records. Records are fully computerized and can be accessed by name or date of birth. A Certificate of Good Character may be obtained in person at the local police station closest to where the applicant resides. Fingerprints are taken there and the certificate, which is issued by the Central Police Agency, is returned to the local police office for pick-up. Processing time is two to three weeks.
Persons residing outside of Trinidad and Tobago may request a Certificate of Good Character by mail from: Superintendent, CID and CRO, Police Headquarters, Corner of Sackville and Edwards Streets, Port of Spain. The request must be accompanied by a fingerprint card completed by a police department or similar organization, a U.S. Consulate or a Trinidadian diplomatic establishment abroad. The fee is payable only by postal money order. Processing time by mail is approximately eight weeks. It may be faster for a Trinidadian abroad to send his/her fingerprints and money to relatives who are resident in Trinidad and have them apply to the local police station on his/her behalf. Then the relative could either post or send via courier service the Certificate to the applicant after it has been picked up from the local police station. Police Criminal Records Office: (868) 627-4180.
Note: Statements from the Ministry of National Security attesting to an individual's good behavior, sometimes known as "pardons" are not acceptable in lieu of police certificates as they refer only to good conduct since the last arrest or conviction.