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  Jamaica Gleaner News – Police present seven reasons for 60 days – Wednesday | October 1, 2008 

  Various stakeholders have been debating the proposed ‘crime bills’ before a joint select committee at Gordon House. Substantiating the case for a 60-day detention without bail of persons charged for serious offences is one of the most contentious issues. I do not regard the current bail provisions as ’sacred’ and so I would be prepared to discuss their amendment. However, my discussion would be focused on the question ;why is more time needed before bail is considered? This is not an easy question to answer but a significant number of the answers seems to point to the ‘logistics’ of the situation facing the crime fighting machinery i.e. the Police, Lawyers, Courts/Judges, Prison Officers and the citizens. 

The Police have their hands full with current investigations and are faced with an increasing inventory of new cases. The courts are also overwhelmed with backlog cases and the prison system is bursting at it’s seams with inmates to monitor. These issues must be dealt with so that we can increase our capability to solve current crimes or preferably to prevent them. Were the action of the persons in the sample of cases (71) presented to the committee by the Police representative of all persons charged with serious crimes by the Police? What period did this sample cover and how many ‘bail’ cases were involved in total? Was the sample selected ’scientifically’? There are some of the questions that should be answered before the merits of the Police case can be considered. 

There are also other issues that must be taken into consideration. At the top of the list is the issue of the corruption and credibility of the Police force. Attempts are being made to weed out the ‘bad cops’ but until credibility is restored a significant number of citizens with information will not come forwards as witnesses to help in the crime fighting process. The Police need to prove that their rate of solving crimes are acceptable when compared to other crime fighting forces in similar situations and that they are not calling for an extension because citizens do not trust them or because they are inefficient or ineffective in carrying out their duties. I advise caution in giving more power to a Police force that is shrouded with allegations of corruption. There are no overnight solutions. Continue to weed out the bad cops, show citizens that the police force can be trusted. Provide jobs especially to people in these so called ‘depressed communities’ so that no one will find it necessary to depend on criminals for sustenance. Go after corporate criminals also so that citizens are confident that the Police are not afraid to do their jobs. Finally, we must find some way to address the belief that it is bad to give information to the Police even when it relates to criminals and their activities. The idea that it is OK to beat of despise a ‘police informa’ must stop.