On Friday past the Ministry of national security in response to the current crime trend in our country hosted a National Crime Assembly, which brought together stake holders from the various sectors of our society. This event was well attended and there was no lack of contributions and opinions for the one to digest. Crime is a national problem and there must be a multidisciplinary approach to solving the problem.
First I would like to congratulate the Minister and his Ministry for putting on a successful event, and I encourage their efforts for collaborating with the various stake holders for the solutions to the current crime wave.
With this in mind I put forward the following recommendations for your consideration in crime reduction in the Bahamas;
Continuity
A key point was the Ministers pledge to the formation of a National Crime Council, and entity that will be the spear head group in this latest attempt to manage the level of crime.
Recommendations
A National Crime Council, must have some teeth that it is it must be more than just a meeting forum, the council must be able to review, audit and hold accountable the various government and non-government groups. It should be action orientated, not a mare gathering for deliberation. This council will be the vehicle by which we monitor and the success / failure of our crime reduction efforts.
Community Policing
It has become painfully obvious that our approach to community policing has failed, we can play with as much as we want. The last 5 years of Urban Renewal, despite the 'awards' has left us with increased crime and a fear that has seriously damaged our quality of life. As we move forward an adjustment and change is necessary for the delivery of quality police service. The Community Policing concept has its contemporary roots with the New York City Police Department in 1994 and is from this management concept where many policing strategies including COMPS TAT, came from. It is unfortunate however that the apparent true meaning of this concept has been lost in translation thus application, as really Community Policing really means the community policing themselves, not simply the police in the community. It was never intended for the police to 'baby-sit' / 'counsel' the community, that's what the church, schools and civic groups are for. If the citizenry are note prepared to correct / report their own era, then police, who will always be seen as outsiders are up against insurmountable odds. I say this from experience, because in 1994, I along with 13 other police officers were selected to research and head the first the Community Police Pilot Project based out of the Quakoo Street Police Station. Our conclusions notably were that;
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The initiative could not be sustained if the community did not buy into the concept
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The Royal Bahamas Police Force with all the best intentions was not the best sales persons for this concept.
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An NGO / other government agency (Social Service) should spearhead the community policing program
Recommendation
1.
Let the police do policing, his is what they are trained to do, community policing even though it caries with the word 'policing' is really a task in my opinion left to the churches, schools and civic groups. These units must sell the need for policing they must convince the general populace that police are their friends and more importantly they the public have a part to play in keeping their streets and communities safe.
2.
The police must be seen as service providers who deliver timely, consistent and impartial maintenance of law and order from the person who litters to the person who commits hernias of crimes.
3.
The police must beheld accountable for their failure to
Zero Tolerance Policing
As stated earlier the modern Community Policing Concept was birth in New York in the mid 90's. Rudolph Giuliani newly elected Mayor and William Bratton then Commissioner of Police never intended for the police to not police in fact it was just the opposite the police were to police vigorously, consistently and impartially. This meant that the police success depended on addressing with professionalism the minor infractions consistently and impartially. This is outlined in great detail in there book Fixing Broken Windows by George L. Kellings & Catherine M. Coles. We have moved from this, but such is the culture of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Generally the members of the RBPF are more concerned about the big drug arrest, or murder investigation than improving the quality of life that will reduce these major events. Further, there is lack of appreciation and understanding that enforcement of a broken tail light usually leads to big more complex forms of criminality on one hand and reduction / reluctance to commit more serious crimes on the other.
Recommendation
1.
Every police officer (particularly marked patrol units) should be equipped to handle traffic infractions, by issuing tickets (fixed penalties). Why do we buckle-up in the United States, because the law will be enforced, zero tolerance should immediately made policy not some new scheme.
2.
All street side vendors should have the proper license and credentials to sell their items, be it the peanut vendors to fruit and fresh vegetable vendors.
3.
All night clubs / bars must check ID of patrons; if minors are found in the establishment fines must be imposed.
4.
Parents must be held accountable in some form for the actions of their minor children.
National Crime Reporting Network
There needs to be real demonstrations of a united front against criminality not just lip service. My experience in law enforcement especially the tightly nit communities such as Fox Hill, Nassau Village, and Bimini, has seen the unprecedented communication network that exist. When we the police came into those communities within a few seconds the entire community was made aware of our presence. A positive example of this is Lil' Blair of Village Road, their crime watch operation is one that the entire Island of New Providence should model after.
Recommendation
1.
The accessibility of cell phones should be taken advantage of where if a crime is committed (especially stolen vehicles) a text message should be sent free of charge to all persons who have a phone, advising them to be on the look out for suspects and report it to the police.
2.
BTC, Cable Bahamas, BEC, Taxi Drivers, all of these agencies / groups have radio communications, similarly when an incident occurs, they can be advised / alerted, communicate their observations to the police.
3.
Harness the numerous security companies and departments that exist in the country. These groups out number the police and can be additional eyes and ears for the reporting of crime
National Youth Service
In my opinion the infrastructure for this already exist, via the Boys / Girls Brigades & Scouts, the Pathfinders and the other numerous church and civic groups. We see this demonstration of youth power only during the Remembrance Day Service, yet year long these organizations are doing their part to save and direct youth of country. Statistics will show that the traditional crime offender is the male between 15 - 30 years, what stats do not show however, are the causation factors. The young Bahamian male is not lacking in role models in my opinion, he just has the wrong role models. He is being educated on the street by peers who themselves have not been directed properly a classic example of the blind leading the blind. He is also being exposed to cultures and behavior that is not his own, the music and lyrics of the Jamaican and American artist speak of the Jamaican and American experience. The Bahamian male hears this reality and attempts to make it the Bahamian experience. Finally, what the stats do not tell us that the Bahamian female has a tremendous influence on how the Bahamian male behaves, she through her naivety and negative role models glorifies and exalts the 'Bad Boy' and 'Ruff Neck' images that her Jamaican, and American counterparts do.
Recommendation
These youth groups should be invested in by government and private entities so that there work can be given more teeth to bite in the affects of social ills. Efforts should be directed to booth the young men and women. , need to be directed and guided along clear paths.
Crime is bad; I say this because I know. As you are aware I am a police reserve and formerly full time with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and actively involved with the Crime Prevention Committee of the Chamber of Commerce.
I think that I have a pretty good feel for the pulse of the level of criminality in the country. It will be a tragedy if this effort put forward by National Security is not capitalized upon.
Gamal Newry
is the President of Preventative Measures, a Loss Prevention and Asset Protection Training and Consulting Company, specializing in Policy and Procedure Development, Business Security Reviews and Audits, & Emergency and Crisis Management. Comments can be sent to P.O. Box N-3154 Nassau, Bahamas or, email;
info@
preventativemeasures.net
or visit us at
www.preventativemeasures.net
