Dear Editor,
We have descended to a state of barbarism and anarchy when we turn a blind eye to vigilante justice. Perpetrators of these vicious crimes need to be brought to the Court and feel the full force of the law. Governments need to be wary of these repulsive actions and see them as precursors to greater mob violence, civil unrest and even usurpation. A police outpost, which has been placed in some localities, is a necessary measure to reduce crime. However, its effectiveness should be revealed by the constant presence of police officers in the streets of those communities. Unfortunately, many communities are bereft of this vital police presence. Sometime ago, the Mayor and City Council were desirous of utilizing land in Bel Air Park for the benefit of their staff. This land should be utilized for a police outpost. A community such as that might be seen as having residents who are equipped with firearms and security systems and security personnel on their property. However, that conception is not accurate if applied to all the residents. Hence, police surveillance is also vital there (as was empirical in the attack on the proprietor of Mattai’s Supermarket), in similar areas and elsewhere.
The Police Force now have various vehicles of mobility including bicycles, which require little maintenance and are inexpensive to use. These bicycles are a useful asset in community policing. A police hut could be installed at strategic distances through the city and communities. This expenditure might seem to be costly but will most likely result in savings while decreasing crimes such as robberies, burglaries and even homicides, leaving more money to be circulated to build the nation’s wealth. There are many programmes used in developed countries to stem crime, and integral to these are the construction of a relationship and bond between the police and the public. Some of these are:
1) Citizen volunteer tasks such as the handling of paperwork and other activities related to law enforcement.
2) Citizen Advisory Boards comprising diverse representation to provide advice on crime fighting methods and of ills in the society.
3) A Citizens’ Police Academy designed for the public to learn about law enforcement’s mission, values and overall operations.
4) A Police website where compliments or complaints can be lodged.
5) Neighbourhood Watch Groups which are people trained in the methods for communicating with the police and neighbours.
6) Citizens participation in neighbourhood barbecues and other activities hosted by the police, citizens can donate and help with these events.
7) Community meetings where various groups and people of different walks of life interact with each other and with the police.
8) Law enforcement surveys which would provide honest feedback from citizens.
9) Getting children involved with the police through cadetship, athletics and mentorship.
10) Utilization of Social Media as a way for the public to follow police activity, crime and traffic alerts.
The foundation and the bedrock of this would be the recruitment of a high caliber of police officers and lucrative salaries, as they would be putting their lives on the line for so many others. Applicants’ histories from as far back as possible should be scrutinized for any biases or misconduct. In justifying a considerable increase of their present salaries, it would be necessary to also realize the expanded scope of their responsibility should these programmes be implemented. They would be entrusted with the care of minors, so effective and rigid ethical rules of conduct must be enacted. Hopefully, more attention will be paid to strategies to defeat this scourge of crime.
Sincerely,
Conrad Barrow
