A traffic cop on every corner?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

IT WAS a treat to see the young police constable in command and control at the busy intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Hope Road during the heavy evening traffic last Tuesday. What a difference it made to have a traffic cop on spot!

Of a truth, a key factor in effective law enforcement is the multiplier effect. It is neither ideal nor is it practical to have a police officer complement sufficient for an officer to be assigned to every citizen or two in order to curtail or solve crime. Rather, the idea is to have properly crafted laws and regulations, with the capacity to effectively enforce them impartially, and to develop a track record of consistent application and enforcement. Once that is achieved, it will have the effect of wider compliance without there needing to be an officer at every street or on every corner.

Until then, the constabulary needs to find ways to efficiently target and deploy police officers at strategic locations to enforce law and order. What I witnessed at the Hillcrest Avenue and Hope Road intersection was almost magical. Where our storied taxi men would block the intersection, or switch lanes off their approved route to make a dash for Marley Road and then to end up at Hope Road and East Kings House Road, the firmly raised hand of a solitary constable held them in check. And even the louts in high-end vehicles and notso-high-end vehicles who would cram the intersection, albeit on the green light, held their place under the guidance of the constable.

During the Yuletide season, I call upon the Police High Command to consider a more sustained deployment of officers at the most critical traffic points.