Open Mike: Do We Need More Police?
Following the overwhelming popularity of the last Open Mike (not), I'm changing the rules for this one.
First person to comment sets the subject of the debate - subsequent comments should stick to that subject.
You can still use the Related Links section to link to any article of interest on the web.
Archives By Date
Do we need more Police. The new Beat Cops, are they walking? Or will there be more cars and bike Police. After all these years why now? It should have never ceased.
Terry.
Posted by Terry on 22.05.05 at 13:31
The problem that we now have I believe relates to the seriousness of the crime that is being committed. More violent and serious crime requires a greater effort by police. A murder investigation will always consume more resources than a breaking and entering. If the number of police is finite then these resources have to come from some other aspect of policing. An obvious source is police walking the beat and the traffic unit. So as a result we have less police patrolling the island and enforcing traffic laws. We may end up for a few weeks with a more visible police presence but as soon as another serious violent crime is committed those patrols will disappear despite the best wishes of the politicians and the police administration.
I think that we should create a civilian traffic patrol. There is no reason why we require trained police to enforce traffic violations. I would privatise this service and pay the company providing the service an incentive based on revenue raised. It would get police out of the banal area of traffic enforcement, ensure that traffic violations are enforced (at least more than they are at present) and might help to solve some of our developing traffic problems. My only concern would be the tendency of this government to take such a scheme and turn it into a method to enrich themselves and their friends.
Posted by lickinalong on 22.05.05 at 18:58
It is not only a matter of 'quantity'...it is also a matter of quality.
The reality is that this police force does not have the expertise within it's members in certain areas, most notable of which is murder.
The breadth and depth of expertise that exists within the US or UK is simply not here.
That is not a criticism, simply a fact.
Posted by Martin on 22.05.05 at 19:21
the US and UK have large funds at there disposol to train officers in special fields though.
Posted by Shark on 22.05.05 at 19:54
The UK has the same problem in that too many officers are tied up inside at the office doing paperwork. A friend was once told not to only act on emergencies which leads to an increase in minor offenses.....it's because there is so much paperwork.
Posted by Sparco on 22.05.05 at 23:08
Cameras will take care of speeders as they do effectively in the UK and other places.
Those who continue to offend will have their vechicles impounded and if driving any other vechicle that too will be impounded and the driver imprisoned.
With traffic offenses largely taken care of automatically fewer police will need to be assigned, and with the courts given teeth this should suceed if the magistrates do their job if they dont replace them with those that will.
Police work can only be successful with considerable assistance from the public, and that can only come when the police are known and trusted by the public.
To amalgamate into to the Bermudian public takes time if one is to win their trust and that is impossible if Police are imported for 5 yr contracts.
Not only that but to become a good dectective takes both acceptance by the public plus yrs of study and skill.
The police should not be self regulating as that is open to abuse or perceived to be which destroys trust.
There should be a separate body to look into impropriaty both in the police and prison services which is not the case at present and I can think of several cases not properly brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
Posted by Bill Cook on 22.05.05 at 23:36
Everyone's always so quick to blame the Police - meanwhile, especially with the traffic problem, they really do seem to be doing what they can. It's that we don't care about the rules anymore. I don't think we're doing our part - we get a speeding ticket, pay the fine, and speed on home from court. We get taken off the road and it means nothing, we drive anyway. We go out and speed and drive like maniacs or drive drunk, then we blame the Police for the carnage on the roads, saying they're not enforcing the law. It's the same old story, blame someone else instead of taking responsibility for ourselves. Statistically, we don't need more Police, Bermuda is already heavily policed as it is. What we need is for people to stop breaking the law.
Posted by SarahT on 23.05.05 at 00:59
To fix the paperwork problem heres an idea. How about the police recuit skilled people to type up all there notes. There would of course be cheaks and they have to sighn papers saying they will disclose nothing, This would mean that police can hand in there notes and they will be typed up and filed ready for the police to use. This would free them up to patrol rthe streets and do police work aswell as create a few more jobs.
Posted by Shark on 23.05.05 at 06:53
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the crime problem in Bermuda - it depends on which form of criminal activity you're talking about.
If it's violent crime, the only real workable long-term solution is to get to the root causes of violent behaviour. More and better cops and stricter sentences are a temporary fix while we get our act together, but as long as we tolerate generation after generation growing up without positive role models in the home, school, church, sports-field or wherever, and as long as members of society feel excluded and alone, we'll have to keep dealing with this issue.
If it's drugs, then the appropriate course of action has always been legalization (or decriminalization, for the pragmatists out there). This is not a defense of the "they'll do it anyway" argument; rather it is a reiteration of the liberal view that most drug-related crime is a consequence of drugs being illegal in the first place (fights over territory, black market transactions, questionable narcotic quality, supply by organized crime, etc). As evidence, compare and contrast the United States during prohibition (gang violence, police corruption, smuggling) and today - nothing changed except alcohol's legal status, yet a great deal of criminal behaviour evaporated.
If it's issues concerning transportation (speeding, drunk driving) there needs to be something done to increase the rate at which offenders are caught. Unlike murders which usually take place in a state of high emotion, most people (I believe) wouldn't speed or drive drunk if they thought there was a good chance of getting nabbed. Speed cameras and a greater police presence on Front Street on Friday and Saturday evenings would make people think twice. As long as the probability of being caught remains remote, increasing punishments will not affect behaviour in all but the smallest minority.
If it's government corruption, only a more politically interested electorate will provide the necessary impetus for greater openness and accountability. Sites like this are great for political dialogue, but even the most well-versed contributor to this site is, if they are truly honest, sometimes very closed-minded and will defend their party of choice come hell-or-highwater, myself included. Too often the Bermudian voter considers their political party as they do their sports team - it's all about unquestioning loyalty, and not abandoning your side come election time.
Posted by TJL on 23.05.05 at 14:40
Shark, the Pleece are not even allowed to refer to their own notes in court, let alone someone else use them.
They must rehearse their 'lines' and recite them from memory.
No chance of getting a civvy to handle the cases for them.
Posted by deadeye on 24.05.05 at 00:21
The story about the launch of the new City Beat Unit can be found here.
Posted by The Limey on 26.05.05 at 13:34