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Corey Connelly
Police Commissioner Ella Harewood Christopher says there is no substitute for good parenting when it comes to addressing the root causes of crime and violence in the country.
She made the statement while delivering the keynote address at the National Personal Teacher Association's (PTA) 64th Mid-Year Conference held at the Hampden/Rowland Multipurpose Facility in Tobago on May 25. The theme of the event was “Repair, Rebuild, Rebrand.”
Addressing stakeholders, including Tobago chapter president ACP Collis Hazell and NPTA representatives from each education branch, Harewood-Christopher said he did not intend to reveal anything about Tobago's crime-fighting strategy in his address, because “that is Mr Hazell's role.”
But she acknowledged that the crime situation, particularly youth violence and delinquency, was intolerable.
Harewood Christopher said in the past, families, churches, communities and schools have all played important roles in raising healthy, well-adjusted young people.
She lamented that this is no longer the case.
“Today, we have moved away from that traditional model and are faced with the kind of problem of delinquency that continues to baffle every decent citizen. And in our desperation, we have unrealistic expectations and an over-reliance on the police for deterrence, detection and detention. And hopefully, that will turn things around,” she said.
“The reality is, with all that police can do and will do, there is no effective substitute for good parenting, which is at the heart of addressing the root causes of many of our problems.”
Focusing on murder and other violent crimes, Harewood Christopher said, “As a society, we have witnessed over a long period of time, and now in our schools, an escalation in the frequency, type and severity of activity that has seriously impacted on our safety and security.” She said what is being experienced today “appears to be the result of a gradual, sustained and cumulative erosion of fundamental principles of law and order, respect for life and for one another.”
“And the price we pay for this deterioration is real insecurity, property damage, human suffering and loss of precious lives.”
Harewood Christopher said police were not ignoring the negative impact crime continued to have on members of the public.
“TT Police understands the national issues and recognises that we have a role to play in repairing, rebuilding and rebranding our communities and society.”
The Police Commissioner outlined several initiatives in the areas of public safety, community engagement and youth empowerment that have already been implemented to curb violence, especially among the youth, in the country.
She said the community-oriented police officers are in direct contact with school principals to implement plans and programmes to curb violence and misconduct in schools, which include school rounds, visits and lectures.
Harewood Christopher said children who are suspended are supported to develop appropriate behaviour through participation in police youth clubs and other after-school programmes.
“The police force has more than 100 youth clubs, 90 of which are active.”
To combat bullying, there are programs that promote empathy, kindness and friendship, she said.
“The program also encourages open communication channels and effective mechanisms for students to report bullying incidents to create a safer school environment.”
Harewood Christopher said police were also partnering with a registered company that specialises in mediation and dispute resolution training.
She said alternative dispute resolution services would be provided through Community Dispute Resolution Centres (CCRCs), a crime prevention programme that takes the form of the School Dispute Resolution Caravan.
“The aim of the Caravan is to encourage school communities to challenge students to utilise alternative conflict resolution skills and to foster conflict resolution skills among students so that they can make better decisions whilst preventing conflict situations from escalating.”
Harewood Christopher said 27 schools and more than 17,230 students have taken part so far.
