Return district constables to the districts
Dear Editor,
In the past few weeks it seems that this monster called crime that has been plaguing our society has reached a point of no return.
It is easy to blame that person and this person, that Government and this Government for the problem. The truth is this problem of crime belongs to all of us and will require a little more than all hands on deck to somehow bring it back to some level of control.
We have to reach a place where we all put forward solutions instead of pointing fingers and ascribing blame.
I have noticed that, just like regular police, the district constables are at police stations and not in the districts where they were originally assigned. In my view, district constables should be returned to the district or community, as their name suggests.
It is hard for any prime minister, minister of national security or commissioner of police to singlehandedly tame this monster. I am proposing that, as a means to have a handle on what is happening, we return district constables to patrollling individual districts, reporting physically to the station every three days.
Also, as a part of the solution, create a network using social media (WhatsApp group). While in the district on patrol, the officer may witness, first-hand, the activities of the community. If something seems suspicious or looks out of place the constable would post it, and members in the group would be aware and give rapid response where necessary.
Gary Rowe
magnett0072004@yahoo.com