Police, citizens and crime control - Delroy Chuck

Delroy Chuck

THE DETERIORATING relationship between the police and the citizens in the fight against crime is a matter of grave concern. At times, the police seem to be fighting a whole community and getting little assistance from citizens as they battle gunmen and hoodlums to take control on the ground and to restore calm and good order. With little support, policemen feel alone and battle weary, as they stand between the maintenance of a decent society and the drift towards anarchy.

It is certainly not easy for policemen, daily, to put their lives and limbs at risk to provide safety and security, to confront and deal with dangerous criminals, to endure the stress and demands of their vocation, and still face a mountain of criticisms when things go wrong. I sympathise with the police as they are summoned to deal with a society that is in perpetual turmoil, with decaying inner city communities that protect and support criminals, with citizens who see the police as the enemy rather than their friends, and with a government whose policies are more likely to create disorder than good order. Yet, the task is not an insurmountable one.

I believe the police are too sensitive to criticism and rebuke from citizens and commentators. It is a fact that some of the criticisms are without foundation and can be ignored. However, when people criticise the work of the police, it is simply that they expect and want the police to do better. People genuinely are on the side of the police. They want the police to do well, to control crime, to keep the peace and serve the communities. Decent, law-abiding citizens will give the police full support when bad men, gunmen, known criminals and delinquents are apprehended and removed from a free society. Indeed, when gunmen are killed in a genuine exchange of gunfire, the society is pleased.

The society, however, is extremely alarmed when police use excessive and unreasonable force in the execution of their duty, especially on citizens who are unarmed and pose no immediate and imminent danger. It is a fact that far too many trigger-happy, young and inexperienced police officers abuse their powers and bring the Force into disrepute. These men tarnish the image of the Force and make citizens suspicious and apprehensive of police action. There can be no excuse for the indignities, abuses and humiliation meted out to young boys, especially in the inner city communities. Yet, it is a fact of life in these communities that young men are belittled and abused and fear the police more than they fear gunmen.

I think a new approach must be tried in these inner city communities. If the present approach of rounding up young men, detaining, fingerprinting, photographing and checking them for criminal deeds is continued we are more likely to increase criminality than to control it. These young men consider the humiliation and belittlement as serious abuses of their human rights and illegal acts, which they are; and when the society takes no action to protect them, then they will seek ways and means to defend themselves and even the score. And I daresay it is happening.

Young, innocent, abused men now find greater comfort and support in their communities from the area dons than from legitimate society. When they are in trouble, it is the community area dons who lend a helping hand and eventually gain a recruit to their lawless activities. The continued abuse of our inner city young men must stop otherwise we are creating an army of disenchanted and disgruntled victims who, having been scarred by police behaviour, will turn their ire and rage on the society that refused to help or protect them.

Where can we start? I think a lot can be accomplished by developing a proper police community relationship and, in the inner cities, it is mainly the politicians who can make it happen. In these communities, it is the politicians who have the greatest influence amongst all and sundry.

Unfortunately, there are far too many insecure and timid politicians who are worried about their image and reputation and hide their contact with criminals rather than to use it to discourage and control crime and violence. In the inner cities, it is simply impossible for politicians to avoid dealing with the lumpens, community dons, alleged gunmen and criminals, and those who give the impression that they don't are merely masking the truth. We neither want nor enjoy the company of bad men, but we simply cannot avoid their presence once we are determined to help and serve these communities.

The real issue is whether politicians have the character to associate and consort with all types and remain untainted.

I think that the police should engage the politicians in these inner city communities to create a better community relationship in their effort to control crime. Persons who offer themselves for leadership and political office must be deeply concerned about the level of criminal activity in the country and be prepared to reduce and control crime at the community level. I know it can be done.

In Grants Pen and surrounding communities, in spite of the adverse criticisms I got, I made it my duty for the police to meet and interact with the area leaders and their friends and to bring the warring areas together so that the communities can live in peace and harmony.

Occasional hiccups

There are occasional hiccups, as old habits die hard, but certainly crime and violence have reduced dramatically in my communities over the past two years, and much credit is due to the work of the police and their active community involvement.

Yes, I know the work of the police is not an easy one, especially in a crime-infested society. But, it will not get easier by disrespect and abuse of the citizens. It can get easier if the citizens and the police work in tandem to identify and root out the lawless in our communities. In the pursuance of a decent society, the police and the citizens must act together and be friends, not enemies.

Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by e-mail at Delchuck@Hotmail.com

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