The Editor, Sir:

The escalation in crime, year after year, has been attributed to several causes. However, my thinking is that one of the major causes is the increased mobility of criminals.

They can move across the country from crime to crime in an increasing number of vehicles.

In the United States, all vehicles are registered in the state in which the owner lives. Why could not we implement a system where all vehicles carry some form of registration to identify it with the parish in which the owner lives? Too often, we've heard of citizens complaining that crimes are being committed by men from outside parish.

The parish identification could be implemented almost immediately and phased in over an 18-month period. The licence plate would carry the parish registration which could facilitate monitoring of vehicles by the police.

I am, etc.,

D. C. FORD

Portmore, St Catherine