THE EDITOR, Sir:I WAS a bit dismayed after reading Ian Boyne's article (January 16, 2005) on Lucius Thomas and the crime problem. I agreed with some of his points including the importance of implementing the recommendations in the Report of the National Committee on Crime and Violence. However, I disagree with his call for tough policing and his implicit discrediting of community policing.
His call for tough policing to effectively tackling Jamaica's chronic crime problem not only highlights that the erudite Mr. Boyne is a bit anachronistic in his thinking but also oblivious to the fact that Jamaican-style tough policing has been in existence for decades. The result of tough policing in say, the last 15 years, has seen the murder toll moving from 447 in 1989 to approximately 1500 murders in 2004. Over 13,500 Jamaicans has been murdered since 1989.
This in a period where over 100 Jamaicans lose their lives to the guns of the police on a yearly basis, many under dubious circumstances and due in part to Mr. Boyne's so-called tough policing. Frankly, history has shown us that Jamaican-style tough policing has been a colossal failure.
Community policing breaks the back of the general distrust of the police. A well known example of this is the success of the COMPSTAT programme initiated in New York City in 1994. I do not consider myself a 'bleeding heart' liberal Mr. Boyne but I urge you to reconsider your position.
I am, etc.,
DELANO SEVERIGHTE
delano.seiveright@uwimona.edu.jm
