Useful tips for solving crime

THE EDITOR: “Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.” Johnathan Swift Like the powers who run this country, the above is exactly what they see. According to the “statistics” the crime situation is on the down. The so-called vision they see is really invisible, because they see no crime. What is going on people? When does it stop? How many more must die? To the Minister of Security do you watch those crime/police shows on TV? Maybe you should take an hour every night to view these shows that may give you some ideas how crime should be dealt with. Some useful tips to create a safe environment begins with the following:

(1) Give the police proper buildings from which to operate. (2) Give them the proper equipment for example, proper bullet proof vests, vehicles, tracking devices, sniffer dogs and surveillance equipment, to name a few (3) Training, proper training in problem solving, not only to write  tickets. Again this brings to mind the question, what is the curriculum/schedule like for training at the barracks for however long they spend there? (4) Besides being trained in solving crime, police should also complete a short course in psychology and how to deal with people, their losses and situations, to be sympathetic since these days it could happen to anyone, and day by day the crime situation is hitting closer to home. (5) The idea of asking/hiring/utilising foreign assistance in the crime arena, for example, the Scotland Yard, the FBI, DEA. It does not “look bad” or one should not feel badly for asking for help, it takes a real man to admit he needs help. Do not think of what people may think, that is the Trini mentality, “what people go say...” stop it now...we need all the help we can get in order to get the situation under control.

(6) Community/neighbourhood watches should be implemented. Each community knows who the “bad guys/delinquents” are, so stop them, and move them out of the community, all with pending charges and previous records, pending court cases, put them somewhere to prevent them from committing another crime. (7) Court cases should be dealt with expeditiously. charge them and jail them to serve their time, and make the time count for the suffering inflicted on innocent persons. (8) Our police service needs to be more vigilant and pro-active not reactive, again that is Trini mentality. Do not wait for something to happen, act to prevent things from happening before it is too late.

A general question to all, “how do you live with yourself knowing that you are doing nothing to help, how do you sleep at night? And think of it, while you are dreaming, someone, somewhere, out there is being kidnapped, tortured, raped, shot and killed. Think...and think hard, where is your conscience? What do you say to these families who have been through this nightmare...what do you say?” Please do not let the  criminals control us and rule the country, put an end to it, instill fear in them, catch them off-guard and deal with them accordingly. Think of the future, think of the children, they are the future and what kind of world do you want them to live in and to live a long and prosperous life. Please do not deny our children, our future, this freedom and safety. Please Mr Minister, Mr Prime Minister, Mr President...do something now!

LEROY JAMES
for Concerned Trinbagonians