Would you give information on criminal activities to the police?

[BlackCryptoKnight]

We all know the stigma attached to those called "informers". They are looked upon as outcasts and are often targets of violence.

Knowing this, would you report criminal activities to the police?

[Cocoa]

That's a toughie cause dem kill informer and some way or the other dem always find out. How come there is not a "not sure" option on the poll?

[Arch_Angel]

The way things going in Jamaica, I wouldn't. I would utilise the Crime Stop number though and call anonymously and report it. But won't testify or anyting like dat.

But being a Christian and all, if the Big Man says I should, in a particular case, then I would. Otherwise than that, I wouldn't. The police can't protect the informers.

[Master E]

Not sure :eusa_thin
Ill get back to you on that

[virus_ncu]

a true thing u a talk AA, look on the man the other day on his way to court to testify on his mothers killing and them shot him up in the taxi.

[Manu]

I would....I would talk. If it is a matter of life and death. I have enough faith in God to know that if it is His will for me to go then so be it...I just hope it stops with me. But I'm a behind the scenes guy. The testifying thing.....that would probably need more thought!

[Cocoa]

MI naw talk mi a call crime stop.

[Arch_Angel]

I would....I would talk. If it is a matter of life and death. I have enough faith in God to know that if it is His will for me to go then so be it...I just hope it stops with me. But I'm a behind the scenes guy. The testifying thing.....that would probably need more thought!
:rolleyes: Here I am thinking, I know what Manu's response will be. Him naa inform pon nobody!!! But you continue to amaze me, or is it confuse me? :eusa_thin

[Leina]

i wud especially if a someone who is a potential threat to me and my family

[Drew]

this is a really dangerous question to answer. testify, no i don't think i would. crime stop, maybe, but still don't know.

[Arch_Angel]

this is a really dangerous question to answer. testify, no i don't think i would. crime stop, maybe, but still don't know.
Don't worry drew. No gunman naa find yu on CaribYard. We will protect yu. :D

[Drew]

Don't worry drew. No gunman naa find yu on CaribYard. We will protect yu. :D
lol, fo real, we got 2 angels in this place. :cool:

[dtgo]

them alright , mi nah inform

[Arch_Angel]

them alright , mi nah inform
Fi real. Let dem gwaan do dem ting and kill of di people dem dat wi love.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

Fi real. Let dem gwaan do dem ting and kill of di people dem dat wi love.

I think that's the message all these songs about killing informers are really saying. :(

[virus_ncu]

wait? Crime Stop still around? ive been hearing of this Catfish

[Manu]

wait? Crime Stop still around? ive been hearing of this Catfish

LOL....it's KingFISH....call 811

:icon_arro A_A

I will not disclose petty facts to report a forum member doing illicit acts. If someone's life is in danger, I cannot and will not go to bed in good conscience that, that person could be snuffed out because of my fear of disclosing sensitive information. i would. Anonymously ofcourse. The trial thing....well...if it's crucial...then yes I would.....but to fabricate a case???? Hell no!!! Atleast let my death be worth it if anything!

[Arch_Angel]

:icon_arro A_A

I will not disclose petty facts to report a forum member doing illicit acts. If someone's life is in danger, I cannot and will not go to bed in good conscience that, that person could be snuffed out because of my fear of disclosing sensitive information. i would. Anonymously ofcourse. The trial thing....well...if it's crucial...then yes I would.....but to fabricate a case???? Hell no!!! Atleast let my death be worth it if anything!
Ok ok. I'm starting to understand now. You will report 'wrong doing' if it involves somebodies life. Otherwise, you will turn a blind eye. Zeen. Got it. Won't bother you anymore. :p ;)

[Manu]

Lol...why you mek it sound so....lol...but pretty much!!

[BlackCryptoKnight]

If no one is willing to hold criminals accountable for their crimes, and give information on them to the police, how do people expect crime to be stopped?

[Manu]

so what about BCK...would you? Why o why not?

[Arch_Angel]

If no one is willing to hold criminals accountable for their crimes, and give information on them to the police, how do people expect crime to be stopped?
Pay dem a little money fi leave yu alone. At least, until the next time they come back to collect. :rolleyes: :(

[ramesh]

And when they come back for more? And you making less than what they want?

[BlackCryptoKnight]

so what about BCK...would you? Why o why not?

I would give information to the police about any criminal activities I knew of. Depending on the nature of the situation, I may chose to do so anonymously, but I would try to do what I felt was right. I believe that the reason that the criminals are comfortable doing what they do, is because nobody wants to hold them accountable for their actions. There are times when people just need to do what's right, regardless of how unpleasant the consequences are percieved to be. Otherwise, there is no hope of anything getting better.

People fear becoming targets of criminals if they give information against them, but what assurance do any of us have that we won't be targetted regardless? It doesn't take much these days... a cell phone can make you a murder victim. I say make crime unprofitable and uncomfortable. Inform 'pon di punk dem! :icon_twis

[BlackCryptoKnight]

WITNESSES CLAMMING UP

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields, who is in charge of the crime portfolio, said he and his team were doing everything in their power to curb the crime rate.

However, he points to the unwillingness on the part of witnesses to come forward and give information as one of the biggest obstacles facing the police.

"The police alone cannot do it, everybody needs to play their part," the DCP Shields told The Gleaner last night.
Read more... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050607/lead/lead1.html)

Remaining silent does not guarantee that crime will not affect you. Eventually, it will reach you if it is allowed to grow and spread.

[chany86]

i am so unfortunate not to know of any of these offenders (riiiite), cuz jah know, mi woulda talk still (anonymously ofcourse) i dont even like cheaters, so ppl who kill others, smuggle drugs etc... woulda definately get inform pon by moi.

[Manu]

Read more... (http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050607/lead/lead1.html)

Remaining silent does not guarantee that crime will not affect you. Eventually, it will reach you if it is allowed to grow and spread.


This is essentially what people don't understand. They think it is not their business....but our country is everybody's business.....

More and more I'm thinking I'd rather die a hero than live in fear! (Sorry babe)

[Xenocrates]

Absolutely. In fact, I am disgusted with the women of these gunmen who harbour them and live off their blood money. I would sell out even my own brother if I discovered he was a gunman. No questions asked. Gunman fi DIE!

Ofcourse... I'd move to Canada first. :icon_mrgr

[BlackCryptoKnight]

Lemme ask something. Why is it that "informers" are looked down upon when they are the ones doing what is right? Why is there such a culture of "cover up" and such demonization of those who would seek to support law and order? And I don't want to hear about the "fear for life" argument, because the mentality extends far beyond just criminal activities and fear of reprisals. It is ingrained into the minds of the people that when people do bad things - whatever they are, they must be covered up and not exposed.

[Temptress]

I never understood it either, the same man the kick down your door and murder your children is the same yute you going to block road and protest for when police kill or even arrest him, not to mention them swear he was/is a good yute and “neva mix up inna nuttin”.

I think people who reside in inncer city communities don’t report criminal activity because apparently the same people who are “taking care of the community” are the ones who are killing them off but if they inform their well being is at stake so I guess they would rather have food on their table and sleep under the bed than provide for themselves and sleep on the bed.

I think the majority of citizens residing outside these communities turn a blind eye to criminal activity until they are directly affected.

Plus our community is easily swayed by catchy dull lyrics such as “informer muss dead” and there are people who live by these words. So it would seem that once we pick up the phone to report something, we are in fact putting out a contract for ourselves though we are doing the right thing. One thing that might help the situation is citizens and the constabulary force developing a better relationship where we wont view the police as the enemy and actually help them to help us remove the delinquents among us.

[Twinkie]

If there was gaurantee on anonimity, then hell yeah!!!

But anyways, my poll vote was yes!

[Temptress]

Has anyone here reported a crime and if so whats is the proceedure.
Everyone is saying yes but only under anonimity so if I call the police lets say.... from a phone box in 1/2 way tree and report something or give them a tip as to where they can locate someone, they gonna ask me for info about myself and so on??
I understand if there's a reward and you want to claim it you would have to let your self be known but besides those instances can't one remain anonimous??

[BlackCryptoKnight]

Has anyone here reported a crime and if so whats is the proceedure.
Called police when crime in progress, but that's about it. Never had to do anything else.

Everyone is saying yes but only under anonimity so if I call the police lets say.... from a phone box in 1/2 way tree and report something or give them a tip as to where they can locate someone, they gonna ask me for info about myself and so on??
Not sure about that. I think King Fish supposed to be anonymous.

I understand if there's a reward and you want to claim it you would have to let your self be known but besides those instances can't one remain anonimous??
I think you can be anonymous to an extent, but even if you cannot, should criminals be allowed to continue their rampage? If everyone spoke out and made things difficult for criminals, whether anonymous or not, criminals could not stop them all.

[KriTikaL]

its kinda like in spider man when spiderman didn't get the money from this guy for winning the contest all the guy said to him was "i missed the part where that was my problem", and then a robber came in and stole the money from that dude and spiderman let him get away by steppin aside to let him into the elevator... when the dude asked him why he let him get away spiderman replied... "i missed the part where that was my problem"
but it was his problem because that same man that robbed the dude needed a get away car and killed spiderman's uncle to get his... *sigh* it really is all of us problem, we have to fight it together and form an alliance with the police, cuz it affects us all.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

The anti-informer culture isn't unique to Jamaica. There this Stop Snitchin' campaign in the US (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/19/60minutes/main2704565.shtml). Rappers etc. are encouraging people to not cooperate with the police.

[Xenocrates]

That's only because of racism. Black americans are inclined to believe that the cops will give them a hard time just because they're black. Unfortunately, the canvas hatred for 5-0 by black americans also cloaks those among them which are actually wrong doers. That's a cultural phenomenon gone horribly awry.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

What's Jamaica's excuse?

[Xenocrates]

In Jamaica, many police and criminals are effectively the same people. That's why so many criminals are signing up to be cops, and why so many cops are corrupt. What you see on the news is just criminals in uniform beating down on criminals in casuals. Those in the force which are blameless are collectively lumped along with those which abuse authority for their own nefarious agenda. However, one set outnumbers the other.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

I dunno. It just makes no sense to me that people turn a blind eye to criminality in their community, shelter criminals, then bawl and cry out for help when said criminals turn on them. If they were informing on these crooks, they wouldn't feel safe enough to wreak the havoc that they do.

[bernie]

I dunno. It just makes no sense to me that people turn a blind eye to criminality in their community, shelter criminals, then bawl and cry out for help when said criminals turn on them. If they were informing on these crooks, they wouldn't feel safe enough to wreak the havoc that they do.

It's not as easy as that. I know a family (all 5 of them) that died because on person decided to 'rat' to the cops. It's sad, but so true. The police can't be trusted, and until they can (which is a hard task), it just seems safer keeping you mouth shut.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

It's not as easy as that. I know a family (all 5 of them) that died because on person decided to 'rat' to the cops. It's sad, but so true. The police can't be trusted, and until they can (which is a hard task), it just seems safer keeping you mouth shut.

Better they take their chances fighting crime, that shutting up and still being victimized. If the whole community was speaking out against crime and making life miserable for criminals, the situation would be much better than it is. Yes there are corrupt cops, but not all are corrupt, and there are ways to expose the criminals and make it difficult for them to carry out their activities or "hide out" safely.

[bernie]

Better they take their chances fighting crime, that shutting up and still being victimized. If the whole community was speaking out against crime and making life miserable for criminals, the situation would be much better than it is. Yes there are corrupt cops, but not all are corrupt, and there are ways to expose the criminals and make it difficult for them to carry out their activities or "hide out" safely.

I really do understand you point, but tell that to a man that doesn't desire to be a part of the statistics. I'm sure he will agree that somebody should say something, but he sure as hell ain't gonna be the informant cause he got a wife and some kids that he loves dearly. I guess there is no easy way out. You'd have to give to get.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

I really do understand you point, but tell that to a man that doesn't desire to be a part of the statistics. I'm sure he will agree that somebody should say something, but he sure as hell ain't gonna be the informant cause he got a wife and some kids that he loves dearly. I guess there is no easy way out. You'd have to give to get.

Either way, you are at risk. If you shut up, the criminals stay, and one day, you will suffer as a result of their activities. At least if you fight them by informing on them (yeah I said it - inform on them yes!) you make one step to getting rid of them.

I dunno bernie, I'm just tired of seeing the news reports of communities "bawling" that "we can't take the crime anymore" yet they are the first ones to burn fire for informers.

[mead]

It's time we stop giving excuses about corrupt cops leaking back information to the criminal underworld, although there is merit to the concerns, there are safe channels to give police information, such as via the phone to Crime Stop and King Fish. After all these year, I have yet to hear anybody been killed, injured or even threatened by gunmen, as a direct result of giving information to any of those organisation.
Far too often we allow this fear to cripple us, while allowing the criminals to take over our communities, although there are effective channels to fight back without the high risk. Even last year we hear of once quite peaceful rural communities being overruned by a handful of gunmen, people in the community know who and where these dutty bwoys are, yet they keep quite, and end up been killed anyway, or having to hide in fear or forced to pack up and run leave their houses. :rolleyes::icon_evil
People need to be smart, they need to realize they are doing more to protect them self, family and investment (e.g home) when they inform on these criminals (providing they use the safe channels), than keeping quite.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

A woman was gunned down in Half-Way-Tree this morning. (http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/8033/26/)
It is understood that Miss Young was killed in full view of scores of customers who were conducting business in York plaza, and commuters at the nearby Portmore bus depot.

A police source said witnesses have been reluctant to provide investigators with statements.

Why isn't anyone giving information to the police about what they saw? How does anyone expect to improve the crime situation if they are not willing to play their part and make life difficult for criminals? :icon_frow