by Dana King Awareness campaign to fight crime in Trinidad and Tobago Betheem Gardens is a low-income neighborhood and crime “hotspot” that sits on the outskirts of Port of Spain and runs alongside the East/West corridor highway and Trinidad’s largest landfill. For those that live in this community, the stigma associated with the neighborhood can be as potent as the … [Read more...] about Empowering communities helps reducing crime in Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean development
Five Takeaways from the Fifth Caribbean Urban Forum
The most important urban thinkers of the Caribbean recently convened in St. Lucia to discuss the future of cities in the region, during the Fifth Caribbean Urban Forum. For the first time, the IDB was an official sponsor of this event and has joined other international partners—the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Caribbean Local Economic Development … [Read more...] about Five Takeaways from the Fifth Caribbean Urban Forum
How effective is community-based policing? The case of Nicaragua.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Some studies show that if you live in a low-income country, you are more likely to become the victim of crime than if you live in a rich country. Sounds logical, right? But here's something interesting: Nicaragua has one of the lowest incomes in the region, yet it also has one of the lowest homicide rates in Central America. … [Read more...] about How effective is community-based policing? The case of Nicaragua.
Controversial Tactics
Imagine that you're walking calmly down a street with your partner one night. Suddenly, and without any reason at all, the police stop you, question you and carry out a full body search of you and your partner. That seems too intrusive, no? That is what's called “stop and frisk,” an aggressive search that is one of the more controversial tactics used by police … [Read more...] about Controversial Tactics
Five elements of a true community police force
The tragic events in Ferguson have placed police practices at the center of a debate in the United States over their model and whether the police have become too militarized. In fact, the White House is seeking to promote community policing tactics and President Obama has created a special commission to make recommendations for a 21st Century police force. The same … [Read more...] about Five elements of a true community police force