Acid is a terrorising substance more so than a knife or a gun. A blade or bullet wound will heal with little trace, but acid disfigures.

In a 2015 interview in Kingston, a sweet, young lady — scar tissue gaps in her cheek — cried as we spoke. She had been in and out of surgery for years, yet her anguish was fresh — no friends, no job; no desire to return to school; “A betta ‘im did murda me!” The courts gave him a slap on the wrist and he is now living the life of Riley; she, an erstwhile beauty, had no man and was a tearful recluse. We spoke of support groups, but she was listless, distraught — tragic!

Recently, a British radio station reported an acid spree by young men, and in an interview a lady said they had “brought Jamaica to England”.

Jamaica is one of a dozen states in the World Health Organization’s report on acid violence. This year our media, mainly the Star newspaper, reported several acid assaults, including on a Queen’s School girl whose poor expression and ice pick overshadowed her grief. This low-key reporting of crime may please Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett, but can he be happy to entice visitors into our dystopian society?

We are not the first or only ones to weaponise acid, but we do bad things with gusto. Acid was thrown a lot in 17th century France as “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” and a man jilted is vengeful. Acid is poor people’s weapon. In London alone, 261 victims in 2015; 458 in 2016; and over 120 year to date. It is unsettling as underreporting is high.

Last Thursday, two young men attacked several groups, “Hand over all cash or we will throw this in your face!” The British Cabinet is debating new laws and protocols for corrosives designed to deter miscreants, as should we to avoid copycat crime.

The epidemiology of acid shows Bangladesh, India, Pakistan as the epicentre of acid attacks and Jamaica in the top 10. Acid is cheap; easy to acquire and dispose of; may erase your fingerprints; and is available in any supermarket. This must change.

What should we do? Don’t panic! Let’s calmly create a new legal, commercial and health regime for corrosives. Acid assault is often ignored as it is poor blacks maiming poor blacks — uptown is oblivious. Justice Minister Delroy Chuck must now get on his bicycle and create legal remedies and protocols. Make acid difficult to obtain and punish criminal use harshly.

Acid attack is not impulse crime. Restorative justice is unlikely, but in some Muslim nations the victim may similarly scar the attacker; not for us. But to have the attacker support the victim in her life sentence has merit.

Supply chain and commercial issues are important. Karl Samuda must ensure the chain of custody from manufacturer or port of entry is documented, transparent; warehousing managed and all shrinkage — missing, stolen or waste — logged. Retail protocols for supermarket or hardware must change and aisles with acids secured as for high-value items. Purchasers must have ID; consumer sizes small with tamper-proof packaging and volume sale to licensed plumbers, mechanics must require “safeguarding and safe use” courses. Merchandising strategy must change; as child-accessible shelves are where they place corrosives. High corrosives must join high-value items for closed-circuit TV security or behind glass.

Public health matters, so Health Minister Chris Tufton should reclassify corrosives.

What’s first response to an acid attack? We need a response team in each hospital and invite Acid Survivors Trust International UK to visit. Education is the key, as illiterate South East Asians and Jamaicans keep acid crimes in the British lexicon. Ed Bartlett may say Jamaica is too lovely for a few to “uglify” it and scare tourists. We agree! So let’s expect the best as we prepare for the worst. We are worth it.

UK to roll back credit/debit card charges

Years ago we cited a British move to end mis-sold payment protection insurance on loans and cards — banks made obscene commissions — and high bank charges. Now Prime Minister Theresa May says, as of January 2018, charges added to payment for goods by card, PayPal or online payment services will end. These fees and surcharges (levied by State agencies too) fleece consumers and breach “fairness and transparency”, says UK Treasury Secretary Stephen Barclay. Go for it, Fitz Jackson! Stay conscious!

Franklin Johnston, D Phil (Oxon), is a strategist and project manager. Send comments to the Observer or franklinjohnstontoo@gmail.com.