Peter Espeut AND SO the Crime Management Unit (CMU) is no more. I have been a constant critic of the foolish idea that high levels of crime in Jamaica can be addressed by squads of heavily armed trigger-happy paramilitaries roving about the country in motorcades. I hope that the announcement of the dismantling of the CMU means an end to this type of cowboy policing forever!
Proper strategic planning creates specific solutions for specific problems after in-depth analysis of the source of the problems. It has never been clear which problem the CMU was strategically designed to solve, and a more obvious conclusion to draw is that the CMU was created for public relations purposes, to give the impression that something is being done to address Jamaica's extraordinary crime problem.
Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates (per capita) in the world, and one of the highest rates of killings of policemen and killings by policemen in the world. In such a small country there are hundreds of illegally imported guns in criminal hands, and we have inherited a system where politics and guns and drugs are closely related. Relations between the police and the public are antagonistic, which slows the flow of information (intelligence) to the police. There are enclaves (garrisons) each with affiliation to a political party, where the police are not welcome, where swift justice is dispensed by local dons with their own courts and militia.
A POLICING AND
POLITICAL PROBLEM
And so Jamaica's crime problem is both a policing problem and a political problem. Only a two-pronged approach will make any headway in solving Jamaica's problems with crime and violence which are of world-class proportions. The formation of flamboyant special squads have served to distract us from the fact that we have not been addressing our problems at the root.
Ultimately, crime-fighting must mean good detective work, which means the collection of evidence: not just from witnesses through statements, but good crime scene work, good forensics, and good intelligence-gathering with co-operation with civil society. Educational entry levels into the police force need to be reviewed, and much more in terms of training needs to be provided. It is better policing to convict a criminal through the use of technology that can make a positive identification from a drop of blood, a scab of skin, a paint scraping, or soil on shoes, than to "clear up" the case by shooting down the suspect in the street. Abolition of the CMU is a necessary step in this direction.
WE CAN DO MUCH BETTER
It may never be possible to completely eradicate the smuggling of arms and ammunition into Jamaica, but we can do much better. The technology to quickly search cargo is expensive but available, and this is a good example of the dual nature of our crime problem: if politicians want this technology in place it will happen; and if they don't, there will be a lot of talk and the machines will remain a dream or will be ineffectually located, and the guns and ammunition will continue to flow.
The link between politics and guns has to be broken. No gunman must feel that he has the protection of anyone in public office, as has happened in the past. This is a matter to be addressed by both the
Government and the Opposition. Both sides must agree that from henceforth, no gunman, and no person who hugs up any gunman, will be welcome in their party. Up until now there has been the hypocrisy of the public and private faces of our political parties: law-abiding and fair and decent in front, yet in reality thriving on thuggery, electoral fraud, graft and cronyism.
The many hundreds of illegal guns will not come off the streets without assistance from the political parties. When the political resolve exists and politicians publicly turn their backs on garrisons and dons and all that they imply, then the police will be able to work without fear of political interference. The day it becomes clear that political criminals are on their own that no politician will bail them, or give character evidence for them, or attend their funerals then we can make real progress in reducing crime. But too many gunmen are keeping secrets for too many politicians, and so the system continues: no truth, no reconciliation and more crime.
The only way the relationship between police and public can be strengthened is if our police force treats every resident of this country with respect. Law-abiding citizens will not come forward to give information to the police if they fear brutality at the hands of the police, or are not certain of confidentiality. There should be a policy of "Zero Tolerance" when it comes to illegal police shootings or other use of excessive force. It is a scandal that some Jamaicans are more afraid of the police who swear an oath to protect them than of criminals!
The timing of the announcement of the abolition of the cowboy CMU is not to be disregarded. The government is entering a local government election as underdogs, yes; but maybe more importantly it seeks high volumes of international financial aid from governments sensitive about financing a country with a dismal human rights record. We must take the Police Commissioner at his word. The decision to disband the CMU was not made because he is responding to public concern about questionable police killings. Sentiments like that we still look forward to.
Peter Espeut is a Sociologist and Executive Director of an Environment and Development NGO.
