Just recently in these columns, we signalled to Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas the magnitude of the task he faces if he is to reverse the fact and perception of corruption in the constabulary. Not that Mr. Thomas should need our direction, for he himself has spoken of the challenge and his commitment to work for change.

However, jobs are easier tackled when there is empirical information from which to address them, which is why the poll findings published this past Sunday are important.

This survey, conducted for the Gleaner by pollster Bill Johnson, showed that Jamaicans believe, on average, that more than half - 55 per cent (mean average) - of the police force is corrupt. Young people, particularly, have that view of the constabulary; people in the 18 to 34 age group believe that up to 60 per cent of the force is corrupt.

We might, in other circumstances, put such views down to the exuberance or excesses of youth; that young people have bought into a popular myth without any bearing in fact. Two factors, however, weaken any such argument.

The first is that perceptions of high levels of corruption in the police force are not limited to the young, even if the cynicism is deeper among the youth. The fact is that people 45 and older believe that nearly half (47 per cent) of the constabulary is corrupt. Then there is the actual fact of corruption. Of the people who drive vehicles in Jamaica, based on Mr. Johnson's findings, more than a third of them - 35 per cent - admitted to having bribed a police officer to forego a traffic ticket which the motorist deserved. The clear implication here is that corruption among traffic and beat cops is deep and pervasive; that it is relatively easy for a motorist to buy his or her way out of trouble rather than to face the law. We can reasonably assume that bribery and graft are not the purview of beat cops only, but applies to all sectors of the constabulary, and this gives credence to the public's perception of just how corrupt the institution has become.

Mr. Thomas will argue correctly, as he and others have done, that battling corruption in the police force is not a job only for the constabulary. Indeed, a corrupt cop has to be corrupted by someone; like the drivers who would prefer to bribe a cop rather than go to court, pay the fines or have points deducted from their drivers' licences.

Moreover, the perception of corruption goes beyond the police force, but pervades the entire public sector. Indeed, Jamaicans believe that up to half of public servants who deal with the public are corrupt.

Clearly, there is a major problem. Or rather, the Jamaican constabulary, and the wider public service, face a deep crisis of confidence. The resolution of this crisis must start with leadership. For now, we focus on the constabulary.

Mr. Thomas has been building systems, but we feel that there needs to be more aggression in building a culture of intolerance to corruption in a very public fashion. While we insist that much more can be done even with available resources, Mr. Thomas should agitate for changes in the law to give the police chief the authority, like any other CEO, to remove poor performing and corrupt staff. This must be Mr. Thomas' crusade.