The Editor, Sir:

It would be a tragedy if legislation and security measures were to be introduced that ignore the difference between community crews and criminal gangs.

To lash out at delinquent youth in trying to crack down on criminals would be a serious mistake for several reasons. Some of these reasons have been indicated by other writers, for example the further embitterment and alienation of the youth.

Economic benefit

The reason I wish to stress here is that the methods already employed by the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) are working. They have had significant success with community crews. They have silenced many guns, turned hundreds of youth away from violence, and done so without putting them through the corrupting experience of overcrowded prisons.

The explanation of this success is that, contrary to what Ian Boyne and others think, it is these 'shottas' that the PMI brings to the peace table, not "warlords, extortionists and drug dons".

These youth do, in many instances, commit crimes (for which the police often take them in). Generally, it is in turf or community defence (however ill-conceived), and this does not mean that all are 'criminals' or hardened professionals, who engage in crime for the sake of illegal money and power.

The economic benefit that the community crew members usually want is a job on a nearby road or building site, or a small own-account business.

This is a far cry from the proceeds of a car-jacking, drug-dealing, or money-laundering enterprise. This is why they come forward to deal with the PMI when the PMI enters a community.

They seek the opportunity to live a productive life and, therefore, want the war 'fi done'. Criminals do not come forward like that. They want the warring to continue.

This one or two per cent criminal element do remain a problem to a community, especially as it passes through cease-fire toward peace. They are a problem because the old way, which was to 'take them out' (kill them), is tempting as compared with the way of cease-fire and peace, which is to leave them to the police.

However, peace councils of community leaders, by working with community relations police, are solving this problem.

I am, etc.,

HORACE LEVY

Research fellow

Centre for Public Safety and Justice

University of the West Indies, Mona