Policymakers need better data on crime - UWI researcher

Dr Hilton McDavid, national security researcher and lecturer, thinks there is greater need for interdisciplinary research on crime and violence, as the country continues to grapple with rampant criminality.

Between January 1 and April 7, there have been 385 reported murders, which translates to an increase of just more than four per cent compared to the same period last year, according to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

"We need to supply the policymakers with better information (and) better data than what we are doing (now)," said McDavid as he addressed a graduate seminar at the University of the West Indies, Mona, on Thursday.

He urged academics to be wary of producing context-deficient research. "From our perspective as researchers, we have to be careful (that) because of lack of funding we take short cuts, because of lack of knowledge, again we take short cuts. If I want to get involved in anthropology, then I must include the anthropologist in my research," asserted McDavid.

He charged that crime and security researchers should pay keener attention to determining the factors that shape the behaviour of the police and assessing the impact of particular strategies and practices.