Solutions for the crime problem

THE EDITOR: It is clear that our country needs some significant reform to address the problems in our Police Service and governance, but there are things that can be done in the short term to manage the crisis that we are in. Permit me to highlight some of these measures that I think should serve as a priority list in any meaningful fight against crime:

Solutions in fight against crime:
(1) Information systems: it is absolutely necessary to implement a state-of-the-art database of criminal activity. It must be updated in real time and accessible from any police station. The first step in solving any problem is laying the facts before you.
(2) Crisis management: The Minister of National Security should be actively and publicly involved in meetings pertaining to the solving of the crisis.
This entails meeting with key bank personnel on confidentiality issues, meeting with members of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad on the progress of investigations etc.
(3) Provision of resources: Vehicles, surveillance equipment and infrastructure must be provided to the police as a matter of urgency. Even if this is a short term solution only, it is necessary because it does not make sense to have resources being channelled into other ministries when there is a clear crisis in national security — the economy doing well does not really matter if you are dead.
(4) Public relations: A key aspect of criminal activity is the confidence criminals have to commit crimes without fear of being detected.
This will only be eroded if there is a perception that something is being done. Daily press briefings and a police presence on our roads will have a significant psychological impact on persons leaning towards committing a crime.
(5) Police evidence and case-building: Despite the evidence collected in O J Simpson’s murder trial, reasonable doubt was introduced because of procedural and personality mistakes.
Police have to be trained that it is not the arrest that is important, but the evidence collected and process used that can lead to a conviction. A revolving door justice system is “spinning top in mud”.
(6) Prisoner rehabilitation: Our “don’t gave a damn” mentality with respect to human rights and criminals simply will not work.
There will come a time when prisoners are treated when incarcerated will come back to haunt us if they are released.
(7) Reduce reliance on hunches, contacts and brute force: We have to get away from the one-man show, Hollywood-type of police officer and focus on intelligent solutions and formulas that work.
In too many fronts in the Caribbean, we hope for a talented “messiah” to save us rather than using the tried and tested procedures for achieving results.
(8) Police recruitment: The Police Service must be seen as a profession rather than a career. The qualifications and criteria for promotion must be revised to ensure that only persons who can make a difference will be recruited or promoted.
Officers must be held accountable for not achieving results.
Policing is a skill — if the procedures are followed crimes will be solved. There should be no need for a minister to micro-manage the Police Service.
In the recent sniper shootings in the US the police chief managed the whole investigations including regular media briefings.
(9) Government “gang” projects. The unemployment relief programmes are leading to a gang mentality in communities. The situation is worsened by not having a clear, published policy on recruitment. As a result people are relying on affiliation and connections to get the prized career-destroying positions.
It is important that if these “relief programmes” continue they are re-engineered to ensure that persons do not become dependent on whimsical contract terms that damage their prospects of meaningful long term employment.

RISHI-NIRVAN BALROOP
Diego Martin