<B>By Pauline ETIENNE</B>

Pressure mounts. When have you listened to the radio or read a newspaper lately without hearing a case of assault, violence or theft? Such crimes have become more and more regular and the authorities must ask themselves ? or the people responsible for safety of the Mauritian population ? why a general atmosphere of violence has been prevailing for the past few months.

Since the beginning of the year, cases of violence have even reached another level with citizens set about people who were trying to do their job. Bus conductors are regularly the victims of young delinquents trying to seize the money collected as bus fares during a whole working day. Two citizens stabbed a doctor at the ENT hospital in Vacoas because they thought their friend had died (which was not true).

When violence starts affecting all regions of the island and is perpetrated by young people in some cases, there is reason for fear. Our society may be suffering from a major problem. Some of us may have already had the disturbing impression that we are living in a sick society. And if the young generations are the ones to commit violence and act unlawfully, then we realise that there is only little hope that the situation will improve.

But let?s try and see what these criminals must be thinking at the moment. Let?s take, for instance, the group of people who recently attacked a bus conductor and then quickly went back home or spent their loot in some gloomy gaming house or bar or chic shop? Why shouldn?t they commit such crimes again if they are left free to do again whatever they want?

I actually do not know for sure who is to blame for such a situation. But reality shows that there must be a feeling of impunity prevailing for these crimes to recur so often.

The solution might lie in the increase of police patrols day and night. But, here again, does the problem come from the decision-makers who do not send the patrols as regularly as they should? Does it simply come from a lack of motivation from the police force or a lack of staff? Or is it due to the fact that the budget does not allow the police to be as present in the field as they would wish to be ? in which case the government may have to rethink its strategy of budget allocation.

I suppose the police must have the answer to all these questions and I believe it would be in the interest of all if they could identify their problems and take remedial action wherever possible.

But the police should not be the only one to review their methods. The government itself should show more severity and make people tempted to commit crime realise that there would be no tolerance towards such non-citizen action. The criminals have to feel that their crime will be punished.

The community also has to be aware of potential problems. Neighbourhood watch is crucial as a deterrent to thefts and violent individuals. No one would dare set out on an area if he were aware that every inhabitant is keeping an eye on his or her neighbour. Only a combined approach of all those affected by the problem ? and all of us should feel concerned ? will help fight the problem?