Heather Robinson
Wednesday's Gleaner reported that Assistant Commissioner of Police Leslie Green told Montego Bay Rotarians that "Jamaica (is) way behind on crime scene investigation." The report continued that "the deficiencies in the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) forensic capabilities and the lack of resources are contributing to the high rate of unsolved murders."
Most Jamaicans who watch local and cable television are familiar with the letters CSI, as they form part of the names of some very popular programmes. They are 'CSI: Miami', 'CSI: New York' CSI meaning 'Crime Scene Investigation'. These programmes usually begin with a murder/murders being committed and the programme shows the collection, preservation and analysis of evidence at the crime scene, the investigation and ultimate solution of the crime. Central to all of these processes is the cooperation that is solicited from witnesses.
Whenever one watches these programmes, one is taken into an almost unreal world, as invariably the guilty person is caught, handcuffed and taken away for a trial. Very rarely are we exposed to the trial, but we are comforted with the fact that the scientific evidence that has been collected is so overwhelming that the criminal will be convicted for the murder. But that is television, with all its fancy crime scene laboratories, sterile environments and coroners who conduct autopsies immediately after they receive the body.
With this daily dose of television dramas showing police officers being successful in their clear-up and conviction rates, we run the risk of judging our local CIB (Criminal Investigation Branch) police officers by the performance of their television counterparts. But is their any merit or benefit to be derived from comparing television dramas with local police work, and should we support the call by ACP Green for the need for Jamaica "to be on par with First World standards"?
Progress made
Some progress has been made. Efforts are constantly being made to modernise the law enforcement infrastructure with the introduction of new technologies and modern equipment to fight the new criminal elite. These include the new IBIS (Integrated Ballistic Identification System) equipment used in the testing of firearms; APFIS (Automated Palm and Fingerprint Information System); changes to the Firearm Act and the establishment of the FLA (Firearm Licensing Authority); the passage of the Plea Bargaining and Interception of Communication Acts; the establishment of the Professional Standards Branch in the JCF, and the exceptional work that has been spearheaded by Operation Kingfish.
Jamaica's murder rate is trending downwards, but ACP Leslie Green is concerned - and rightly so - about the high rate of unsolved murders. He sees "the need to bring in new forensic tools to assist us to obtain evidence," and in this call he needs and should get our support. I have always maintained that if criminals were more convinced about the ability of the police to shoot with greater accuracy when fired on by criminals, there would be a significant reduction in fatal shootings by our police officers. Similarly, if criminals, and especially murderers, were convinced about the forensic capabilities of the JCF, there would be an even greater reduction in murders.
Support and financial resources must be provided to constantly improve and upgrade the competence of our scene-of-crime detectives. ACP Green needs our support, not only because he has asked for it, but also because it is necessary for our very survival.
The Jamaica Constabulary Force needs our support in ensuring the plans for the construction of a modern forensic laboratory and morgue are not only put on the front burner, but are placed in the position: ready to serve. Only then can we expect to be living participants in CSI: Jamaica.
Heather Robinson is a Life Underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
