First Things First – A Crime Reduction Strategy Part 1

The Global Stage

In a June 15, 2022 report Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty (AGCS), suggest an increase in strikes, riots, and violent protest. This continued upheaval has been associated with the increased cost of living which comes with the scarcity of basic human necessities. This comes on the heels of the still impact of the COVID-19

Not one to live in the past as there is very little that can be done to change the past. Nevertheless, it is to the past that we must look for lessons learned in order to reduce our repetition of the same strategic and tactical errors. What are the lessons learned from our response to both COVID and Dorian? Certainly, we must appreciate that we are living in a global village and the village is not as big as we thought, especially with the advent of technology and improved media and transportation networks.

Additionally, UN Secretary-General Antonio in March 2022, speaking of the war in Ukraine which has impacted more than 30 percent of the world’s wheat production stated “All of this is planting the seeds of political instability and unrest around the globe”

In a January 2022, article appearing in the New York Times, titled 'Examing the Spikes in Murders' writer German Lopez suggests that Covid 19, changes in Policing, and access to more guns can be attributed to the increase in American cities. I think that Covid_19 and access to more firearms can be applied to the Bahamas. Our policing model is not necessarily changing to adapt to the social and economic woes of the Bahamian society

How we prepare for the influence of global trends and turmoil must go beyond economics, the credible focus should be given to how we can sustainably protect our nation in the long run.?

A Local Perspective

The 1st?half of 2022 has seen a concerning upswing in violence here in New Providence, with approximately 70 killings to date with an expediential wave in the last 60 days alone.?It seems that we are helpless to do anything about it as we see scheme after scheme fail. But is murder a true indicator of crime trends? I think not. In my opinion, social decay and delinquency are real indicators for forecasting what is about to come. The 7-year-old ill-mannered and poorly educated youth today, if not rescued will most likely become a statistic tomorrow.?

The 2022 Crime Brief, provided by the Royal Bahamas speaks to a 33% increase in Armed Robbery in 2021 compared to 2020, where 415 occurred in 2021 and 313 in 2020. This is a difference of just under 100-armed robbery incidents. The question is what attributed to this fall off in 2020, when in the previous years we saw numbers of 576 in 2017, 477 in 2018, and 534 in 2019. It can be reasonably argued that the actions that were taken to mitigate COVID-19 had more than just an impact on our health but also on our safety. The upswing which is seen in 2021, can be correlated to the reduction in restrictions in 2021. A similar trend is noted with the murder count, where we a downswing in 2020 to 73, and a subsequent uptick to 119 in 2021. On Sunday, February 20, 2022, we saw new reductions in COVID protocols introduced, we are happy but we are also wary. Based on this pattern it would be interesting to see the numbers for 2022.

Based on the report firearms were used in the majority of armed robbery incidents. The report goes on to state that business establishments are being targeted between the hours of 6 pm and 10 pm. Based on the report 151 businesses were held up, placing staff and customers alike in harm’s way. With that type of information business owners and security, planners need to make better decisions on where to allocate resources.?These mitigation strategies can range from cash reduction initiatives like increased cash drops or moving to electronic payment platforms. I am amused when I see where investments have been ballistic cash cages but the staff is not using it. Another nugget from the report indicates that ‘Thursdays’ appear to be the day of choice for the commission of this incident type. This is very interesting as it would appear that the ‘armed robber’ is preparing for the weekend, not an unusual trait in our society, as many persons look to the weekends to enjoy and relax from a long work week. Finally, ‘location…. location…. location’ is also touched on in the crime brief. Without a doubt, New Providence remains not only the economic hub for The Bahamas, but unfortunately, this attracts criminality.?It would appear that notwithstanding the bulk of the population living in the East of New Providence, South and Southwestern New Providence appears to be the areas more impacted by armed robbery. As stated, it is a good idea to improve relations with the Police Station responsible for your area and take some initiative in making your community safer.

What appears to be missing or lacking from our society is an aggressive approach to reducing juvenile delinquency, which when left to fester evolves into the adult categorization we call crime. It is bewildering that Government Ministries such as Education, Social Services, Sports, Youth, and Culture are not receiving more funding, aid, and restructuring as a part of a national crime prevention program.

The current philosophy of increased police and security presence, alarm systems, burglar bars, and reduced cash on-premises are all responses to crime, not prevention. If one is to compare crime and social disobedience to a disease then the aforementioned ministries can be said to be preventative and wellness programs; whereas the surveillance systems, tracing anklets, law enforcement, and the courts are likened to pills, emergency medicine, and surgery.???For example, in the last 10 years, we have seen more shifts, reassignments, and restructuring in the Police and Judiciary than in all 5 agencies combined.???It is painfully obvious that the problem is not the fruit that we are attempting to lock up and give a harsher sentence to but the tree i.e., our social and cultural infrastructure.

Education

We may question if the education system is failing, and it becomes a national debate when the results of the BGCSE and BJC are released. This argument has very far-reaching ramifications that go beyond our nation's ability to compete with the global marketplace as it tries to prove it has a qualified and deep pool of employable persons. It reflects our ability to communicate and relate to each other. Where there is a breakdown in communication, there is confusion, which leads to frustration, anger, and violence.???Rationale and problem-solving skills are greatly diminished because little Johnny cannot read. After several attempts to save money by purchasing an off-market product only to find that the instructions are in every language but English, I have decided to stick with those products that have English as it's the primary form of communication.???Of course, the issue here is not the savings but the frustration in not being able to understand what was required. The low level of education speaks to the inability of persons to receive instructions, but also their difficulty in understanding these directions. Out of unintended shame and embarrassment, many times too many a violent response is given.

‘Boys will be boys,’ says the mother as her son is arrested for the third time for being in possession of marijuana. This is a truth that should not be laughed at but used to our advantage by creating more boys and girls-only schools. It appears to me that many young men and women are distracted and need assistance in prioritizing what is necessary for the various stages of their life.???Studies have shown that there are noticeable changes in behavior and better academic performance when troubled young men are placed in a male-only environment. Additionally, we must realize, reoccurring need to bring in ‘skilled’ laborers that not everyone is inclined to be a doctor, lawyer, or scientist. We must find other alternatives such as masons, carpenters, and mechanics that should be taught from junior high.??But not just taught but seen to be respectable and admirable professions.

Social Services

What exactly is the role of social services in reducing crimes, and how can they help? Well, my experience with young men and women tells me that they are receiving another type of education besides the formal lessons in school. The ‘school of hard knocks’ regularly reminds these kids that they will not always have food to eat, uniforms to wear, or worse, mommy or daddy to give them the love they need. It is easy for those of us who have the emotional, educational, and financial backing to sit on the side and critique, and demand longer jail terms and hangings, but are we really addressing the problem? Let's be?real Bahamas, we all need love and desire to be loved to make it through the day. With this ‘love’ to look forward to then really what is there to lose????Here I see the social worker as more than someone who hands out food stamps or is able to find shelter for the less fortunate, but someone who can tap into that inner being and facilitate via church or some other civic group where help is needed.

Sports

The social and interpersonal skills one learns from playing sports are terribly under-rated and need to be harnessed immediately. Team and individual sports, besides fostering healthy lifestyles, teach discipline, respect, patience, confidence, and cooperation, to name a few; which are fundamental characteristics lacking in many of us today. They also introduce participants to rules and fair play, added with the penalties for breaking those rules.?I am convinced that organized sports programs are one of the most powerful weapons that we have to fight and reduce crime. Be it tennis, swimming, golf, any of the martial arts disciplines, or track and field; we are missing the learning and molding opportunities that these physical and mental disciplines offer. Let’s not get confused, the purpose here is not to create world champions but better Bahamians.

Youth

If we sincerely believe in the statements that ‘children are the future' and ‘children are the wealth of a nation, then this division of government must receive more attention, planning, and investment. The primary focus of which must be on the young men. I am not a chauvinist but I firmly believe that men are the fundamental backbone of a healthy society.???Where we have seen the decline in good male leadership, we have seen a direct increase in moral decay and crime. No, I did not 'conduct research or hire some consultant, I just live here. What amazes me is that already in place are groups such as the Boy’s Brigade and Boys Scouts that can cater to this training of our young men, but they lack the funding. Boys need to be taught how to be men and lead, we can't hope for it to happen without seriously placing effort into the process. Think about it... who are the main perpetrators of social disorder and crimes? We all know the answer, yet we are not attempting to get to the source.

Culture

The identity crisis being experienced in our country has in my opinion been a major catalyst to the social and moral decay we are currently experiencing. Frankly, if you do not know who you are then nothing and no one really matters. What is worse is when an individual is left to discover what his / her purpose is, on their own. This hit-and-miss approach to self-discovery is extremely dangerous and wasteful. We must remember that we are losing lives, not money or some other property. A strong cultural appreciation is a key to fostering a strong national pride, where a greater sense of ownership is instilled. This approach to crime reduction makes the Bahamian more than a caretaker, but a stakeholder. This taps into the survivalist nature that we all have when it comes to protecting our own. It brings to life again the chorus ‘this land is my land; this land is your land’ come to life again.??

This may be seen as an unusual way to start crime reduction initiatives, but in my opinion, it gets to root causes, with specific attempts to kill the seeds that grow into the chaotic and frightening lives we are living now. For this refocusing to be successful it requires that all of the aforementioned areas be addressed. It cannot only be education, as we must approach the crime reduction effort from all angles.

We are however placing too much focus and emphasis on the end result. When we see past and present governments spending millions on new court buildings, prison facilities, police cars, technology, and physical infrastructure, it becomes painfully clear that we are playing a game of wait and see or as I say ‘catch up. What makes matters worst is boasting of a high detection rate or that most crimes are being committed by repeat offenders. We should not be excited about hanging offenders when we put so little effort into the understanding and curbing of the delinquent desires our people have to commit these crimes.