Former Police Officer: Tackle Root of Crime
Appearing before the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee yesterday [Jan 21], former Police officer and UN Peacekeeper Jeff Baron [pictured] spoke about the importance of reducing crime by mending the social causes of it.
Mr Baron previously served ten years with the Bermuda Police Service, with his last role as the Sergeant in charge of the Firearms, Public Order and Officer Safety. In 2006 he left the Bermuda Police Service after accepting a contract to serve with the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations where during his 14-month deployment he advised UN diplomats on security-related projects. Mr Baron is currently a Security Advisor for a local organization and a civilian Director of ‘Crime Stoppers Bermuda’.
Mr Baron said: “If you ask anyone what needs to be done to reduce crime, most of the responses are likely to fall into one of three categories,” and listed treatment while incarcerated, limiting opportunities for crime/catching offenders and tackling crime at its root causes based on social problems.
The “three perspectives are not mutually exclusive, and effective crime reduction programs, such as the one likely to result from this committee, may be coordinated across all three categories,” continued Mr Baron.
The belief that CCTV or robust policing can counter complex social problems like gang violence is unrealistic, according to the former Police officer.
Noting that “gangs are part of a subculture that resists societies’ laws and norms,” Mr Baron said that “Inducing guilt or shame by arrest and incarceration is difficult when, by their definition, incarceration for violence towards a rival heightens the authority of his gang or crew. My point here is this: Westgate is not deterring violent offenders. Furthermore, anecdotal evidence suggests that gang members and their supporters view a custodial sentence in Westgate as a ‘reputation enhancer’ rather than a deterring factor discouraging criminal activity.”
Speaking on ‘situational crime prevention’, which is a methodology of reducing criminal opportunities, he gave local examples of ‘situational crime prevention’ techniques such CCTV installation, robust policing in hot spots and residential burglar alarms.
“Situational methods can be quite effective and results are achieved relatively quickly in comparison to other methods,” according to Mr Baron. “The political drive to reduce violent crime and disorder will encourage more partnerships to seek the ‘quick wins’ associated with situational crime prevention, rather than opt for the longer term measures which seek to reduce criminality. However, there are unintended consequences of situation crime techniques, such as crime displacement. If installing CCTV cameras, increasing police patrols and improving the lighting conditions in a specific neighborhood moves offenders away towards an unprotected neighborhood how can we, on a National level, claim to be reducing crime? This is spatial crime displacement, not reduction”
Mr Baron then spoke on ‘secondary crime prevention’ or ‘social crime prevention’, which is focused on the social causes of crime, which includes matters such as living standards, recreational facilities, and employment.
Addressing employment, Mr Baron said: “Current economic conditions in Bermuda make it difficult for many corporations and the government to gainfully employ qualified adults let alone delinquents. However, while our economic emergence from this recession is inevitable, the government and our business community should begin formalizing social programs and employment strategies for actual and potential delinquents sooner rather than later.”
On recreation, Mr Baron suggested our international business community should be encouraged to assist through a coordinated partnership with government, saying that “Recreational Facilities, particularly for actual and potential juvenile delinquents, is thought to reduce crimes in two ways. First, recreation improves youngsters’ quality of life and enhances their self-esteem; second, youths who have something to do besides ‘sitting-off’ on walls are less likely to get into trouble.”
Citing a UK study about the impact of living standards on crime, Mr Baron said: “We should broaden our focus to view the potential social, economic and security benefits of improving living standards. Therefore, I recommend government funding of the BSBC, who oversee all EEZ’s, should be increased to boost staffing levels and enrich current and future projects. Furthermore a ‘working group’ between the National Security ministry, BSBC, and local community leaders should be established to ensure the security needs of at-risk communities are being addressed.”
In conclusion, Mr Baron noted that “It is time to refocus Bermuda’s crime reduction efforts on the wider struggles yet to be won – mending the social causes of crime.”
Always wondered why Mr. Baron left and the reasons why. Maybe one day we wil find out. With all the stuff happening in Bermuda and his knowledge of it, why the move.
This is all fine an dandy, just more of pointing out the problems but very few solutions
A UN peace keeper?lol they are some of the biggest crooks in the world.
Terry,
Why don’t you ask him.
I,m going to ask on your behalf.
Dear Mr. Baron,
Terry wants you to answer ” Always wondered why Mr. Baron left and the reasons why.”
Yours Truly
Drag
Dragin….yah sum chiel. I already did. Vat you smoking man………
Now stick to the subject and change your lure…..jingus….
Keep it civil.
To Terry:
Your quote: “Always wondered why Mr. Baron left and the reasons why.”
Terry are you trying to be civil, glory your spirit. Personal apology from Drag to you for confuzing wondered with asking. Thought that you needed assistance. Since you don’t need help from the hand that feeds you, you have my blessings to ask Mr. Baron personally “Always wondered why Mr. Baron left and the reasons why”
Let’s see your courage and humility.
Drag
I think that looking at the problems that Mr. Baron has highlighted i think it is time to spend a few of those tax dollars and have another “OPERATION CLEAN SWEEP” or something of a similar nature to erradicate the criminal element on the island.
Remember the last Operation Clean Sweep? The broom got too close to dirt on both sides of the political fence. Just imagine what would happen today. Westgate could never hold them all. We would need one of those prison barges like the one moored near LaGuardia airport, NY. The thing is HUGE. About the size of a cruise ship.
Never even heard of a prison barge so I added to my ‘life’ knowledge by doing some research on it.
Thanks
Since I cannot attach pictures of it here, you can see pictures at:
http://www.tug44.org/tugboats.trawlers/prison-barge-vernon-c-bain/
Vernon C. Bain – Prison Barge
The Vernon C. Bain is a prison barge operated by the City of New York, and houses some 800 prisoners in a medium and maximum security facility. She was built in 1992 at a cost of $ 161 Million, which as usual, means it would have been cheaper to send the inmates to Harvard instead.
Since the jail is not permanently moored to the shore, Coast Guard regulations require that she have 3 maritime crew on board at all time, including a mate, an engineer and an oiler, which adds $ 650,000 per year to the costs.
The Vernon C. Bain has all the amenities, including a huge kitchen, law library, recreation rooms, and as seen there, a basketball court on the top deck.
We shouldn’t be trying to emulate anything the US does – look at our public school system since building a US-style super school. Over half the US prison system is privatized, meaning yes, they’re probably more efficient since they’re run for-profit, but there’s also an incentive to grow the industry which is a serious moral hazard. The prison system was a huge lobbyist against the recent Prop 19 vote in California; it would have passed if it weren’t for their (and the churches) marketing campaign of fear.
underworld…sorry you totally missed the whole point of what Triangle Drifter was saying. To break it down for you, triangle was saying ‘with a modern day clean sweep effort, we would run out of prison space and would need a prison barge to hold the overflow.’I just added info on the prison barge for other like myself who did not know what it was.
No one was saying to go out and purchase one!
If you really think we should not be Emulating ‘ANYTHING’ from the US, then you need to take a serious look at your cell phone, clothes, appliances, electronics, food, television programs you watch and your vacation locations.
95% chance that with those things you own and use, YOU are emulating the US.
NOT everything from the US is bad.
MR.Smith, another clean sweep will be beneficial but will be over in 24hrs. we need a police service that is coordinated, enthusiastic, confident, individuals that are physically disciplined and team orientated, that team also needs to be of a strong Bermudian presence. we are a village Mr. smith, Lessons can be learned from the Bermuda Regiment, they can achieve 10 times as much as the police, Why? because they are Bermudian and they can inter-react at a very high disciplined level.
Does Government have money for brooms?
The underworld is funded primarily by the importation and sale of drugs. If you legalize drugs you take away their ability to operate. Bermuda is a rich country. Rich countries consume a lot of leisure drugs. This high demand will always fuel supply, so regulate and tax like alcohol and cigarettes rather than allow the underworld to profiteer and grow. Trying to limit supply only causes prices to go up, which just makes more profits for the gangsters.
Start with marijuana since over half the adult population is a user already. Encourage people to grow their own so they aren’t paying money into the underworld.
Regarding the current crop of gangsters – the majority are lost souls already, nothing we can do but segregate them from civil society. Like he says tackle the roots, it really starts with a good education in my mind (and I’m not just talking about school – parenting needs to improve significantly in some segments of our population).
Underworld YOU GOT IT Drug usage is a health problem not a criminal one….Legalize and regulate^^
Terry the Troll,
Why Jeff Baron left the Police is really NONE of your Business!
Jeff Baron is absolutely spot on but unfortunately people only seem interested in superficial “quick fixes”. I don’t get it. I mean, I understand that it’s politically expedient to just lock people up but why does the larger society really believe that this is effective? The evidence is that people generally come out of prison more criminally knowledgeable and experienced than when they went in – how is this fixing the problem? Yes, people need to be dealt with according to the law but prison just becomes a revolving door if the root causes of crime are not addressed.
Not only is it a revolving door, the other parent and extended family are left to raise the kids and work two jobs to make ends meet. So neither parent is ever around and they get into trouble – peer groups essentially create their own sets of rules and family bonds i.e. gangs. So one parent in/out of jail creates numerous new delinquents – the cycle propagates and grows exponentially. Without intervention this population could eventually become the majority. If they ever get motivated to turn out and vote look out – Bermuda is Jamaica II and the Premier is Dudus Coke’s best friend. People don’t want to accept this as the long term reality but they better wake up.
Very true Call as……
Just wanted to see what your response would be, and right on que you did’nt let me down.
I know Mr. Barons history quite well thank you.
Now..put some bait on that hook.
After reading what Mr. Baron is quoted as saying, I see nothing new. Period.
Nothing personal, know the family all my life.
There is nothing there except the same old retoric that has been investigated and regurgitated.
The Wodding Report 1969
Pitt Report 1978
Tumin Report 1992
Et al.
The facts have been collected, corralated, documented, distributed and combed with fine teeth.
Of course we know Westgate and it’s predecessors have performed a function.
And yes we know that most who/whom have been through these revolving doors don’t give a crap.
In a nut shell, it all begins at home.
When these single parents stop producing, and the inceminator takes responsibilty and family support these situations besides just a roof, then were out of the starting gate.
Anyone can flip through recorded facts, written, or quoted but to comment that this is a new approach or needs to be looked into is shere nonsense.
I want to know what will be done. Whats not been done but not in this way.
Sounds more like an advert for business, and happy to be home.
Opinions, like dragin a lure but can’t make a call.
ps. So obvious whom these no-it-alls are. They even re-print stuff here on local blogs/forums. Get a life that lets you deal with others views.
didn’t I hear much of this from the PLP……. what is he adding to the issue….those who feel it has been saying the same things….
I bet he won’t call for a living wage…or for an in-depth study on paid disparity, between blacks and whites, with the same qualification, and preforming the same jobs……not that’s getting to root of things…
thinks we can use the 6.5 million from the family CCTV plan for healing families… so we don’t need to be spying on the entire community…