Safety first before giving crime info

Yes, citizens do have information about crime that they can provide to the police and this is vital. But the fact remains that citizens do not feel safe to provide the police with such information. There are many instances where citizens are targeted and threatened by people about whom reports were made.

Given that we saw many times that police officers are involved in crime, many citizens do not trust the police. We have also heard of witnesses being killed, threatened etc.

What guarantee can the police give citizens that the information they provide is confidential? What is the status of the witness protection programme? How anonymous are those hotline numbers we are encouraged to call? Do the police eventually get the information? Can the police use its cybercrime unit to get the names of people? When the information is entered in station diaries, can any officer have access to it? Even where an information provider collects a financial reward through a commercial bank, there are cameras there and employees who prepare the money can see by whom and when such fees are collected.

If the authorities want the citizens to play a greater role, they must be ensured of the safety of themselves and their families.

Even so, will they be willing to take this risk? Let us be real. It’s a real chicken and egg situation.

Citizens may want to help but are very afraid.

Given that eyewitness testimony may be difficult to get at this time and may not be reliant in the courts, greater emphasis should be made to get scientific evidence that can stand up to much scrutiny. It’s the best option at this time.

Kevin Ram via email