I refer you to Georgina Wilcox’s article, “Crime and Community Safety” in Friday’s (28) edition of iNews. The article had a list of 21 paragraphs showing statistics and recommendations taken from the first Grand Cayman Crime and Community Safety Survey (GCCS) carried out between June and July 1996.

Dr. Kate Painter from the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom carried out the survey. From University of Cambridge website one learns: “Dr. Kate Painter is an experienced researcher and practitioner with a varied portfolio of criminological work. She is the leading expert in the evaluation of public lighting, CCTV and crime reduction.  She has pioneered research on marital rape and other gender issues.  In addition, she has researched youth offending, anti-social behaviour and fear of crime. She is currently convener of Terrorism Studies and co-convener of Crime Prevention with Professor David Farrington. She is also researching the issue of multiple murders with use of firearms and comparing this form of extreme violence with terrorist violence and suicide attacks.

“Dr. Painter is an excellent communicator and public speaker who has delivered numerous papers to high level audiences including the House of Commons, senior professionals in the Criminal Justice System and local authorities. As such, she is well used to briefing politicians, including Ministers, and has extensive experience of chairing conferences and committees. She is currently a Senior Research Associate at the Institute of Criminology. Between September 2000 – December 2001 she was programme Director for CCTV, Vehicle Crime Reduction and Intelligence-led Road Traffic Policing at The Home Office, London.”

Dr. Painter is obviously very experienced in her field and prominent people take note of what she says. She has a B.Sc., M.Sc., M.A. (Dist.), PhD. Criminology (Cantab).

M/s Wilcox concludes by, “wondering why so little of the recommendations [of the Safety Survey] (if any) were implemented.”

How many persons living here are aware of this survey? It was authorised by the 1996 Executive Council of the Cayman Island Government. The leader of Government Business was Truman Bodden. Sitting on the backbench was Kurt Tibbetts (who succeeded Mr. Bodden) and current Premier, Hon McKeeva Bush.

I have read the report of the survey including the more detailed one. In fact there is a copy of both posted on the University of Cambridge’s website with Dr. Painter’s biography at: www.crim.cam.ac.uk/people/academic_research/kate_painter/

Maybe one of the members of the L.A. at that time, including the three gentlemen I have named can answer M/s Wilcox’s bewilderment as to why this survey was allowed to grow dust on some shelf? Look at the recommendations Dr. Painter advises. A youth crime prevention panel. Crime among young people is best tackled early. Survey young people for their views on the causes and prevention of crime (though that would be a waste of time and effort judging by how this survey was acted upon). CCTV cameras (well finally yes – after 15 years). Police should produce guidelines for those who take emergency calls. The ability to identify repeat complaints. Various action plans. And the real BIG one. The abysmal record of police recording – only 4 out of 10 burglaries are recorded, only 9% of attempted burglaries, police do not record all the offences about which they are informed. Fifteen years ago this was a major concern and it still is. There is no efficient police recording and information retrieval system. (Yes, we have heard about this new statistics computer but doesn’t a human being have to actually put the information in?)

The report says “the results of the survey should be widely publicised, via the local media accompanied by lectures at public meetings.” Did that happen? If it did, I don’t remember it. Does anyone quote this report?

The report concludes, “crime really must be tackled by all those who are touched by it. This can be achieved by setting up multi – agency crime reduction programmes which activate the resources of the police, government agencies (social services, youth services, etc.), business sector, voluntary agencies and community groups. It is recommended that a new partnership is formed to establish crime reduction programmes. A partnership between public, private and voluntary organisations can result in much more activity and generate more resources than would occur if each agency acted in isolation. It recommends employment of a full time qualified crime prevention coordinator.

And finally, “The findings of the survey provide a baseline on crime and community safety and similarly conducted surveys should continue to be carried out every two years…..”

I sincerely hope I am completely wrong with my assumptions. I would love to see a similar survey executed again by Dr. Painter for comparison. She might be horrified to find how the public’s perception of the police has changed, the serious crime rate has soared but very little change in all that was wrong here.

There is still space on that dusty shelf for another survey. It proves we are doing something. No one pays any attention to them, do they?