I often wonder if the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has a public relations department or if members use common sense in carrying out their duties.

The fact that the police have charged Carolyn Bygrave, who, by all accounts, is deemed to be a Good Samaritan, can be classified as simply a stupid act.

Ms Bygrave is charged with "assisting a child to run away from the custody and care of a fit person". The facts, as outlined by the police, are that the child, Annaleise Davis, followed Ms Bygrave, that Ms Bygrave took her home and, after two days, (it is conceded the child was well taken care of), took her to the police.

Place of safety

The prosecution will be required to prove, at the very least, that the person having care and custody of Annaleise, was a 'fit person'. The police seem already to have answered that question in the negative, as the child was removed from the care and custody of her parents and placed in the care and custody of a government-run place of safety. I think most of us will agree, based on past reports, that our so-called "places of safety" are not necessarily the best places for our children.

Second, all of us are extremely overjoyed that the child was rescued by Ms Bygrave, and not by some of our fellow depraved citizens. She should be applauded.

Educate the public

The police, by charging Ms Bygrave, proves the maxim that 'no good deed goes unpunished' and tells us that we should not get involved, mind our own business, as the possibility exist that we may be charged with a crime.

This is a case where the police should have issued a warning to Ms Bygrave and educate the public as to the proper way to handle such a situation in the future. The police can still redeem itself by doing the right thing - publicly withdraw the charge.

I am, etc.,

PERCIVAL A CLARKE

percivalclarke@hotmail.com

Montego Bay, St James