I’m not going to pretend to have any solutions to crime & for sure, none that are simple. I grew up in London amongst criminals, English & Jamaican. I steered a path away from them; education & different circles helped. I have friends who’ve done time for violent crime.

I have good friends, well educated, parents, professionals, church friends, now doing jail time for crimes, including serious financial malfeasance. I have friends accused of sexual crimes (not proven) but dismissed based on allegations. The paths to criminality are complex.

I have friends who resisted criminal overtures, got dealt with/threatened directly & their families targeted, who kept resisting. I have others who bent, or were broken. I know business people & politicians who spoke one way but financed crime.

I’ve seen ‘anti crime’ strategies used that failed miserably and those that seemed successful; all were locally driven. I’ve seen failures turn to successes & vice versa because of accidental events.

One of my regular local pub was ‘home’ of notorious gangsters, operating in plain sight. I know people in Jamaica who turned 2crime 2survive, got out, & so far no reprisals. I know people in Jamaica living adjacent to criminals, known to the authorities, operating in plain view.

Most crimes take much compliance by others. I’m not in a position to tell anyone to not be complaint. But, while ‘support’ systems for criminals can exist w/o many adverse consequences, some high profile arrests etc change little. A lot more thinking and action needed in Ja

I have harsh words for Ja judicial system, from JCF thru courts, who have plenty of cases where it’s hard to accept that they were acting in public interest. If nothing saps public confidence more than seeing ‘justice’ undone or thwarted, please tell me.