The recent spate of criminal activities, in particular in the parish of St James, has given the opportunity for politicians to grandstand and make pretty speeches about criminal activities.

The harsh reality is that several of the communities that are factories for criminals were either created by politicians; or in many cases, politicians exercised wilful blindness as these squatter and informal settlements were being established.

Politicians from both major political parties supported the establishment of lawless communities and, when criminals take over and run these communities as “donships”, these same politicians shed crocodile tears and make beautiful speeches about how they are solving the crime situation.

Any analysis of the crime situation in St James will show that many of the perpetrators are from informal or squatter communities. Many of us have, for years, warned that these squatter and informal communities are breeding grounds for criminals and are communities in which normal proper policing cannot be practised or enforced.

These communities have no proper road network and so criminals can disappear in them knowing there is no street number or any formal system of addresses. Most squatter communities need an enforcer to protect the squatters from people who might seek to evict them from occupation of lands belonging to the State or to other people. This is the foundation on which the dons, the extortionists and the enforcers, build their kingdom of crime.

The politicians, in time, lose control of these squatter and informal communities. Their authority is taken over by the dons, and in many instances politicians have to get the permission of dons to visit these communities.

No amount of pretty speeches will bring about a solution to the crime monster now haunting the country. Experience has shown that there is one, and only one activity, that the criminals all fear, be he a don or a little petty criminal, and that activity is “the hunt”.

If we look at the history of the dons in Jamaica, or if we go as far as to look at ex-President Saddam Hussein of Iraq, there is one and only one activity that they all fear and that is “the hunt”. We will not get on top of the crime situation without putting in place a dedicated, reliable, trustworthy and effective system of hunting the criminals. The young man whose photograph was shown with him holding an AK-74 rifle is at present fearless. However, should he become aware that there are professional law enforcement officers hunting him, we would be surprised to see how much a change there would be in him.

The hunt generates fear in the “baddest” gunmen. The hunt removes from the gunmen the sense of comfort and confidence that they will not be captured. We need a team from the army and the police who are highly trained, well-motivated, and properly equipped with both weapons, transportation and electronic monitoring devices to launch a hunt for all the arrogant and oppressive gunmen who believe that they can do anything, anywhere, anyhow, without any repercussion.

If we take a look at the experience of countries that had a difficulty with criminals, as we are now having, we will see that those countries never hesitated to embark upon the hunt. We will also note that the bravest of gunman is always brought to his trembling knees when he becomes aware that he is being effectively hunted.

Let us abandon the pretty speeches and the nice talk. These are not creating any sense of comfort to anyone. Let us, in fact, say no more for now, but let the result and the effect of the hunt speak for itself. It is the hunt, and nothing else that will bring a result now.

Finally, the hunted, that is to say, the gunmen, must be given the option of turning in themselves and subject themselves to the laws of the land. We should not, however, wait for them. Start the hunt!

Linton P Gordon is an attorney-at-law. Send comment to Observer orlpgordon@cwjamaica.com.