EDITOR, The Tribune.
FIRST I would like to reaffirm my support for our policemen. But this is not about me. It is about our young men who have absolutely no trust in the police. Not only the young men but many not so young men and women are not happy with the way the police are executing their duties. Many of them feel as if the police are setting up young people to fail We are all aware of the problems we have with gangs, but that’s not to say every young person is involved with gangs and the police should treat everyone differently.
Minister Dames speaks to having the police force undergoing fitness training. One would think that this should have happened during recruitment training.
What the minister should be concentrating on is training our police in the ways of dealing with the young people so as to gain their trust. Many of the officers are in need of such training.
Young people are often the victims of violent crimes and we need them to have confidence in the police if those crimes are going to be reported and dealt with effectively. The police cannot do their job unless people report crime. But young people are so distrusting of the police many of them would not report a crime for fear of becoming a suspect.
While more police on the streets makes some people feel safer, the exclusion is the young people who are saying they feel less safe when they see the police on the streets. In some cases they fear they would be stopped and interrogated for just being on the streets.
I reiterate that if police officers are expected to respond to the needs of young people then they should receive training in how to work with young people.
The police must be able to tell the difference between adult and young people’s perception. I see police patrolling the area and I feel safe. Young people see the police and they go “what I do”? I see a van full of police and I’m curious, young people see a van and they thinking “we are going to get bullied”. Minister a short while back police officers were in the communities interacting with the residents.
What happened? You were on the cusp of gaining the trust of those you are sworn to protect and serve. The police need to be embedded in the community they serve. They need to increase the amount of positive interaction with the young people and become a part of their lives rather than someone who stops and searches them. It is important that young people trust the police if we are to improve confidence and prevent crimes.
It will take work from both the police and young people to improve their relationship. The question is how do we get the young people to trust the police.
ANTHONY PRATT
Nassau,
June 28, 2018.
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