I hope that the commissioner and other decision makers will take a read and if these methods are implemented I am sure that they will reap success.
How To Stem Crime In Cities
Recruit educated Social Scientist from the University to analyze the crimes committed and by what means (for example if guns type of guns). Once that is identified the police need to then develop a strategy to curb such violence. Since most of the crimes are committed in cities, the police need to set up a strategy to identify all routes leading to and particular communities and then set up rigid road blocks and search vehicles. Say a community is known to commit crimes. They should find out times crimes are most likely to be committed, by whom, what are they using etc, so as to paint a good image of the type of persons and what mode of transportation is normally used among other things.
The police should also utilize computer educated personnel to join he ranks or utilize the institutions who provide computer learning such as UTECH to design computer programs to help in their policing efforts. The police high command can put in a program encouraging persons, who say have developed the best computer program that assists in law enforcement can get a reward and if the computer programs is/are applicable it will be leased or purchased. We have all the resources in place to help ourselves and generate employment for our people at the same time.
Criminals that are caught should be thoroughly interrogated by trained Psychologists to solicit information from suspects and the suggested plea bargaining method can be used as a tool, to even acquire more information.
Use more intelligence, the Police themselves can act as undercover drug pushers or gun purchasers and identify the source of such weapons and they can utilize small cameras recorders and whatever technology that is out there as means for obtaining proof.
Since we don’t make guns in Jamaica and some of the weapons I see featured in crimes are high powered weapons, Government needs to put in place an intelligence network to reach the suppliers of such weapons, which most likely the roots are in the USA and bring suit against such persons, who are implicated in the export of such weapons.
Crime In Rural Areas
The authorities should move now, there is no reason for such to be allowed to escalate, almost every community in Jamaica is covered by at least one of the major cell phone networks. People should be encouraged to call the Police and report suspicious looking individuals and the police must act so as to send a strong signal. We have to end the type of policing we have in Jamaica where we only act when our “behinds” are under fire and not when the various elements are being put together.
Highways and criminal networks
The authorities should also put in place methods to deal with increased inter-parish commute and the ease at which criminals can move from one end of the Island and commit a crime and move back undetected. Therefore, I am suggesting increased border patrol and highway patrol especially at exits and entrances to the major thoroughfares and again more research needs to be carried out so that the police develop an accurate picture of what they are dealing.
I also believe that with the Government should look at installing spike strips on some of the major highways as a means fro catching criminals and shortening high speed chases.
We need to utilize the brilliant minds in our society we can help ourselves to overcome any obstacle we may face. As my mom would say, “…trust in God, everything happens for a good reason”. Jamaica, we will overcome. Congratulations to Asafa Powell, we feel even prouder to be JAMAICAN.
This is my opinion © 2005
