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WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE CRIME STOPPERS INITIATIVE?

Dec 22, 2010 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

For the Narine family of Surat Drive, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, there will be no bright lights or decorations this Christmas. The family has been thrown into deep mourning following a robbery which saw the patriarch of the family shot. He succumbed subsequently to complications that developed as a result of the injuries he sustained during the attack.
Not so long ago, a businessman was killed when he tried to defend himself during a robbery at his business place at Chateau Margot. In that household too, there is not likely to be any Christmas celebrations this year.
At this time it is necessary to remember all these and the many other families who have suffered tragedies this year and to think hard about ways in which we can bring an end to the numerous robberies that are depriving honest, hardworking citizens of their possessions and in some instances, of their life.
Ninety -nine per cent of the people of Guyana do not support crime. They do not try to deprive people of what they have.
They respect the security of others. However, a small fraction of our society is bent on dishonest living and wants to deprive you of what you have worked for honestly. This is something that is resented by the vast majority of Guyanese.
A few days ago, a man allegedly robbed a man in the Stabroek Market area. He was pursued and eventually caught. This shows that citizens do not condone stealing and dishonesty and are willing to cooperate in the fight against crime. But what means are there to tap into this willingness of citizens to contribute to the crime fight? What can citizens do to help reduce crime?
Many citizens have information about criminal activities in their communities? They know for example where drugs are being sold within their community and who may be benefiting from illegal proceeds.  They also have their suspicions about individuals and these suspicions, while not representing evidence, can be helpful to law enforcement intelligence.
But most citizens are wary about providing this information for fear that the source of the information would be tracked to them thus endangering their lives. They simply do not trust the confidentiality of the police.
In the United States there is what is called the Crime Stoppers initiative, which allows citizens to contribute information that can be helpful to solving crime. All the citizens have to do is to pick up the phone and provide the information.
A few years ago, it was decided to have a similar programme in Guyana. But because of the concerns over a lack of confidentiality, it was decided that instead of local operatives receiving the information, the calls would be routed overseas and someone in a foreign country would take the information and then relay it to the local authorities. In this way, the identity of the informant is protected.
Sadly, this initiative is not yet up and running in Guyana. This should not have been the case. The police should have been benefiting from the intelligence that can be provided by the average man, who will also be rewarded for information that leads to arrests. Thus there is a built-in incentive for citizens to provide information on criminal activities.
The police are greatly in need of intelligence. They need all the help they can get because armed robberies present a challenge. But the police are not receiving this help because the crime stoppers initiative is not in place and ought to have been by now.
Guyana cannot afford to wait any longer. There is a need to rid our communities of this festering threat. It is time for concerted action to be taken against crime, and for this to happen, citizens should have avenues to make their contributions in additional ways. It is time to get the crime stoppers initiative underway.

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