IN THE fight against crime it is imperative that the Government and the police bring the public into their confidence and to solicit its help as much as possible. Some attempts have been made to do this but not enough.
The set-back in the schedule for the installation of closed circuit televisions (CCTV) in strategic public places across the island is a case in point.
The Government had promised to set up the cameras on a phased basis by September 2004. The project was sold as one that would boost crime-fighting efforts significantly. The success of similar projects in metropolitan cities, including London, was cited to allay fears by some citizens of a potential abuse of the system. Early reports that one of the cameras had been stolen, while providing cynics with some wry amusement, in general did not put a damper on the expectations that it would serve the public good.
But now, in response to questions from The Gleaner, spokesman for the Ministry of National Security, Donovon Nelson has
confirmed that cameras have not been installed, that the planned national command post remains under-equipped and inoperative.
We can appreciate the Government's reticence to telegraph reports of any chinks in its armour that may encourage criminals. But the reality is that the crooks don't need any encouragement. They seem quite adept at running rings around the country's
security personnel and, as the Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas has confirmed, they often have help from within the Jamaica Constabulary Force in carrying out their nefarious deeds.
The Government needs to stop tip-toeing around the problems and level with the people. The plan for the installation of the cameras had much support from the business sector particularly those in busy commercial districts who felt vulnerable to various acts of criminality, by day and night. As has been indicated by the recent private sector-led protest against the country's high crime rates, business operators are prepared to throw their financial support behind the country's security efforts without negating the Government's primary responsibility in this area.
It is time for the Government to give the country a frank assessment of the problems with the project - whether they were initially overly-ambitious or naive in the concept of how and where the cameras should be set up. It is foolish, for example, to go installing cameras in a manner and at locations so obvious, that the criminal and the mischievous will be able to destroy them quite easily or operate outside of their range of view.
It has been stated over and over again, the fight against crime has to be multi-pronged. The Government has to maintain a big picture view and get law-abiding citizens to work with it on all fronts. This must be done in an atmosphere of frankness and transparency.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
