Senior Reporter
rhondor.dowlat@guardian.co.tt
As the crime rate soars, many citizens feel increasingly powerless, viewing the issue as solely the responsibility of the Government or police.
However, criminologist Dr Randy Seepersad believes a unified effort from all sectors of society is essential to tackling the problem.
Speaking on CNC3’s The Morning Brew yesterday, Seepersad criticised Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for his recent claim that he should not be blamed for the nation’s escalating crime rate.
“I disagree with the Prime Minister’s statement,” Seepersad said.
“Addressing crime is not just the job of the Ministry of National Security or law enforcement. It is a collective responsibility that involves all elements of government.”
Seepersad highlighted the public’s growing sense of helplessness as a significant issue.
“We’ve become desensitised to crime,” he explained.
“The constant bombardment of crime reports in the media and on social media may numb us to its impact. It’s only when you experience it personally that you truly grasp its severity.”
He stressed that crime cannot be dismissed as someone else’s problem.
“If we ignore it, it will eventually become our problem or that of our loved ones,” he warned.
“We need an all-of-society, all-of-government approach to tackling crime.”
One of the practical measures Seepersad is advocating is “target hardening,” which involves enhancing the security of homes, vehicles nd people to make them less vulnerable to crime.
“Simple actions, such as installing tracking systems in cars or improving home security with burglar-proofing, can make a significant difference,” he suggested.
While recognising the crucial role of law enforcement, Seepersad also called for a nuanced approach that included primary, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies.
“Primary prevention involves broad-based initiatives like values education in schools. Secondary prevention targets individuals at high risk of offending, and tertiary prevention focuses on those already involved in crime, such as inmates.”
He also called for a reassessment of legal firearm ownership.
“People are turning to illegal firearms out of fear and desperation,” he said.
“Instead of making it harder to legally own a firearm, we should streamline the process, ensuring proper vetting and psychological checks.”
He advocated for improved public education on self-defence laws.
“Many people feel helpless because they are not informed about their rights.
“We need to educate citizens on how they can protect themselves within the legal framework.”