Readers mail....
From A A Wisley....
The Times, Saturday 13th January edition ran an article about the town of East Paolo Alto, one of the wealthiest cities in the United States. 30 years ago the town was plagued by drug dealers fighting over their “turf” and had one of the highest murder rates anywhere in North America, 175 murders per 100,000 residents (it is about 2 in the TRNC).
In 2023 the the number of murders was reduced to zero and it has been in the low single figures for nearly a decade. Many intertwining policies have led to this incredible reduction but one of the more significant catalysts was public self-help. A group, initially of only about 10 but now many more, vigilantes wearing highly visible outfits began to patrol the areas where the drug dealing was taking place. They did nothing other than record drug deals either photographically or by reporting to the police the number plates of the vehicles involved in any dealing, the majority of which were owned, of course, by drug buyers. The police notified the owners of the vehicles that they had been seen dealing in drugs and were henceforth under scrutiny. Amongst them were a number of high-profile people whose reputations took a nosedive. Bit by bit the drug dealers and their customers moved out. As a result and encouraged by forward-thinking ideas in education, counselling, health, policing, and employment, the areas became less unattractive, and new residents, businesses, and investors moved in and no more murders.
So, what has any of this to do with the headline “TRNC Killers”. Well, the headline refers to the killers on the roads of North Cyprus. In 2023 there were 47 deaths on our roads, a rate which is about 400% higher than the European average. Of these deaths none, I suspect, was caused by a true accident. Many were caused by the driver going too fast, or being drunk, driving a vehicle which was not safe. A number were caused by the driver talking on his telephone and either wandering off the road, driving into the path of an oncoming vehicle, or just not being properly in control of his vehicle. In addition to the deaths there were many, many injuries to innocent bystanders plus damage to property.
Two things are required to reduce deaths and injuries caused by phone misuse. First, is the need to “catch” the drivers. Second is the need of an effective deterrent. The first is practically useless without the second.
As to the first requirement, a group of phone “vigilantes” (Cep Kops?) could augment police efforts by photographing miscreants using their phones whilst driving and then passing on the information to the police. There are many places where there is excellent visibility through windscreens and where phone users habitually use their phones, so a rich haul of potential killers could be had. Think of delivery drivers or mothers outside schools!
The second requirement involves enforcement and the imposition of a real deterrent. The Police must act on the information supplied with automatic prosecution, where the evidence is clear. A minimum wage fine would hardly be noticed by a SUV driver and may well simply be ignored. Remember that a motor vehicle is a deadly weapon and its misuse should involve a deterrent at least equal to that of using a firearm in a public place. So, a phone user should first have his phone destroyed and then his vehicle impounded for, a minimum of, say, 6 months. Being without a phone is hardly an inconvenience, as another can be bought quickly for a few lire, but not having your trade van, your lorry or your family car is a big deal.
“Cep Kops” could be a deterrent in themselves, by raising social awareness, as well as landing those phone users, who endanger lives, with an expensive punishment.
Are there any Cep Kop volunteers out there in the TRNC?
https://cyprusscene.com/2024/01/14/trnc-killers-at-large-on-their-mobile-phones/
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