Root causes of crime must be addressed

Needless to say, all societies are bound to face crime on one level or the other. What makes the difference is whether crime is being handled with short- or long-term solutions. It is not sufficient that the crime rate is measured — rather what is crucial are measures taken to resolve it.

The crime that claimed the life of an Emirati policeman in Ajman last Friday was heinous and tragic. Saud Rashid Salem Khamis, 26, succumbed to his injuries after being stabbed by a group of attackers who beat him with swords, knives, and batons.

The Interior Ministry, in fact, should be commended for its immediate action to investigate the crime and seek justice for the victim and his family.

But looking beyond the incident, this attack is not the first of its kind as there have been instances of several previous crimes involving the brutal use of weapons such as knives and swords.

If anything, this is an indication of a problem that is coming to the fore — one that needs to be addressed and resolved.

There is no denial that there is a common denominator that could be found in those who resort to using such violence. When there is a group of people who are characterised as being relatively young, jobless, and living in poverty, it all provides the right elements for a serious problem.

Being neglected and shunned, such groups will resort to violence as a means of venting their frustration. And this is dangerous as the violence affects the entire society.

If an outcome is to be expected out of the Ajman crime, it is that problems can only be solved when the root cause is addressed.