THE population has a high public distrust of the police and this fact is worsening the crime crisis, said a recent report by Parliament's Joint Select Committee (JSC) on National Security. This JSCD was chaired by Keith Scotland.
The report also lamented that problems in the law courts and prison system also contribute to failings of the criminal justice system.
The report pointed out the pain felt by victims of crime and also by perpetrators, each with their own reasons to feel let down by the system.
"Our current laws often see prison and detention as the main solution to every criminal infraction. We may be incarcerating persons who pose no harm to society and consequently may be overburdening the prison system," the report said, quoting a comment by the Public Defenders Department.
The judiciary said a focus on imprisonment for offences including non-violent acts has hindered restorative solutions (aimed at repairing harm done) and may school offenders in worse crimes.
"The system provides little preventative care and tends to seek only to punish."
Saying a punitive approach may reflect TT's wider cultural perspective, the report said that was ineffective and had not led to positive perceptions or behaviours.
The report took aim at the police service. "Recent years have seen a substantial increase in public distrust of the service, with topical discussions on its performance and competency exacerbated by incidences of police malpractice, unlawful conduct, corruption, and extra judicial killings, all highly publicised."
[caption id="attachment_1003945" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Attorney Keith Scotland - Photo courtesy The Parliament[/caption]
LOW TRUST LEVELS
The report said the population has "a relatively low level of trust in the police."
It said 42 per cent trust the police, 59 per cent report a crime when a victim, and 67 per cent feel safe in their neighbourhood.
The report noted people's feelings based on their interactions with the police in 2022.
Ten percent were very satisfied, 18 per cent satisfied, 15 per cent neutral, 19 per cent dissatisfied, and 38 per cent very dissatisfied.
The report noted the effect of public distrust in the police.
"The lack of trust in the service also plays a significant role in the under-reporting of crime. Serious crimes went unreported by 39 per cent of victims on a nationwide basis in 2015.
It lamented “most victims choosing not to report based on their feelings about the police service, including inability to trust the police, police apathy and lack of confidence in police to pursue the matter appropriately.”
"The lack of public trust has also negatively impacted public willingness to cooperate with the police service in other ways, including providing information and witness statements.
"Under-reporting not only discourages public confidence and lowers the public’s sense of security, but also can contribute to increases in crime and embolden criminality."
The report said people's fear of crime were topped by fears for a fr
