THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE LACK of real and effective solutions to the crime problem in Jamaica is compounded by two things: The attitude of people who are quick to claim police brutality when the police kill suspected criminals in a shoot-out, and the lack of tough measures that will put the criminals on notice that they will be punished severely for their actions.

The police, in their effort to bring dangerous criminals to justice, are going to run into situations where they are engaged in shoot-outs. These shoot-outs oftentimes result in the suspected criminals getting killed. The reaction to this is usually police brutality, of course. Interestingly, when a police officer or a vulnerable member of the society (child or elderly person) is killed, we do not get the outrage that such crimes deserve. The lack of outrage is noticed even at the highest level of the society - the very Government, which has the responsibility for public safety of the people. Also noticed is the double standard with which government officials react to select incidents.

The quick response by the prime minister to the recent killing of an 11-month-old child by ordering an immediate review of the policy governing lethal engagement by police officers is an example of the double standard. Such prompt response does not occur when a police officer or other vulnerable member of the society is murdered in cold blood.

Maybe it is because the police are easy targets for everyone who condemns them for incidents that occur during the performance of their duty. The police are our last defence in the fight against crime, and if we keep undermining their effort in this tough war against barbaric criminals, the criminals are going to win the war.

I am, etc.,

DAVID ARMSTRONG

Richmond, Virginia

Via Go-Jamaica