The Editor, Sir:

The concept of more police is not a solution for the spate of crime in Jamaica, as increased police officers on the streets or more persons being recruited as police officers would only trigger a strategic review by organised criminals, as well as a geographical shift in crime. The authorities must consider three factors in the quest to find solutions to crime; the age-crime relationship, concept of time and space, as well as accessible local forensic education and training.

The age-crime relationship is represented by the age-crime curve, which illustrates that the onset of crime occurs between age eight to 14, offending peaks between age 15 to 19, and the offenders are expected to desist offending between age 19 to 29.

Adolescence and crime

This is an indication that a nation with a demography which is high in adolescence age will experience a high crime rate. In this case, the solution should be aimed at the age group of eight to 29, especially persons in the age group of 15 to 19, who are more likely to be perpetrators. This is not a police concern, but it suggests a need for social intervention at the critical periods of lifespan development.

The urban theories of crime suggest two important concepts; criminal activities are influenced by time and space, and an area with many offenders may not be an area where the crime rate is high. The relevance of these concepts is that they should point to solutions. There are some types of crime that will only be committed at a certain time of the day and in certain geographical areas, based on attractiveness and opportunities. While the inner cities may have the criminals, the crimes are committed elsewhere. On the other hand, while one inner-city community may have the criminals, those criminals commit the crimes elsewhere. Therefore, more police could easily shift crime around in time and space without reducing or eliminating it.

Embrace forensics

The notion of forensic training and education is broader than the forensic portfolio in Jamaica, which perhaps consists of several untrained elements, which are tagged as forensic. It's more than taking 'any expertise' into court or on the crime scene; it's a set of specialised principles and experiences that must be gained through specialised training and education. It is important that the need for forensics be embraced and an institution be established to offer forensic training and education at the highest level.

While increased police on the streets is welcome as increased investigative and protective measures, such a strategy will not reduce or eliminate the prevalence or incidence of crime, but it will only shift the crime around.

I am, etc.,

CANUTE WHITE, BSc

superpower342002@yahoo.ca

668 Cotwich Pathway

Kingston 11