Colin Steer, Associate Editor - Opinion

Between governmental leth-argy and incompetence, the inanities of the Opposition and the runaway crime rate, even a sprightly Pollyanna would be forced to abandon her high-octane optimism.

So Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin resigned after six months in the job, and is subsequently persuaded to stay on. This is all very messy.

It matters little whether he has taken personal responsibility for being unable to rally his troops into getting a better grip on crime, or whether it is because of fundamental differences with the Government over strategy and policy or serious conflict with senior members of the officer corps of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). His quitting or threatening to quit is only symptomatic of our society in free fall.

Force's Passive resistance

For the commissioner was brought in 'from outside' the JCF, because, among other things there is a systemic rot that needs to be excised like yesterday. It soon became obvious, however, that rank and file police personnel were engaged in passive resistance aka a go-slow.

Lewin's appointment, along with other outsiders to the senior ranks of the JCF, was destined to alienate men and women who are being asked to push the criminals into retreat across the country.

So, between those good cops who want to do their work with integrity, but are demoralised by the recent appoint-ments and the corrupt ones who want a free rein, one of the main vehicles to be used in the fight against crime is in 'park', the ignition switched off.

This has dangerous implications for the country. For if the commissioner cannot get his people to work with him, where does that leave the rest of the society?

Logic to the madness

On the other hand, while some people acknowledge that crime is multifaceted, much of the discussion and suggestions about how to solve the crime problems in Jamaica refers to the 'criminal dem' as if there is a homogenous set of gangs acting with a singular motive. Sometimes drive-by shootings, the killing of policemen, and other violent inci-dents are not nearly as random as first reports would suggest. There is logic to the madness.

Investigations and later checks often indicate that the slain had some long-standing problem or recent incident with their attackers or henchmen. The innocent and unconnected do get caught in the line of fire, but perhaps not as much as is assumed. Of course, none of this makes the criminal acts any more excusable.

Additionally, we have a long history of resolving disputes through violent means. I can recall, as a youngster, in different sections of the Corporate Area seeing people prepare for a fight.

Men and women would take long-necked glass bottles in which beer was sold and gently tap them on the concrete pavement so that they ended up with a weapon with two sharp points.

Others would take pieces of barbed wire and twist them into the shape of a horse shoe and then embed these into a small piece of board that they could carry in their hands. Yet others would store corrosive substances in small bottles.

And for what purpose? To inflict serious physical damage on others with whom they had a dispute.

Pre-emptive policing

So, what sort of preventive or pre-emptive policing is going to stop people from sitting down quietly somewhere and plotting to carry out their deeds whether in broad daylight or under the cover of darkness?

Multiplying the number of police on patrols and saturating communities with their presence would help. So, too, would a more effective policing of our shorelines and ports of entry to stanch the inflow of guns. But is the society prepared to commit the kind of revenue and resources to this venture that would be required?

Even a re-socialisation project and massive job creation would not change people's attitudes in the short term. Neither will the tough policing used in the past. In rare instances do the police get at the 'dog-hearted' criminals. It is the exception rather than the norm for the police to capture their 'most wanted'.

So, with turmoil in the leadership of national security management and no clear policy or strategy to get a grip on the situation, where do we go from here?

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