One of the keys to preventing an escalation in crime is not allowing it to take root. For once a culture of criminality sets in, it is extremely difficult to restore a sense of security in the community or area it affects.

So we commend the police for their determination to root out crime in the Falmouth market, as reported in The STAR on Saturday. In response to reports of extortion, larceny and shootings, the police have escalated their operations in the market and seem confident that they will get to the perpetrators in short order.

"Before now, the market was not a dangerous place, but we all know that criminals, from time to time, move from parish to parish. So, now they are here," Detective Corporal Michael Douglas of the Area One police told The STAR. "We have a few names and we are investigating, so it's only a matter of time until we go get them."

It is notable, too, that the criminality seems to be an import, as in a police operation two weeks ago men from Kingston and St Thomas were held. This certainly supports Douglas' theory about migratory criminals.

We hope that the police in various peaceful places, of which there are still many in Jamaica, take the same attitude as their colleagues have towards the Falmouth market. Since many of the criminals are migratory, when they start to infiltrate stable communities they should be rooted out and moved on very quickly. And when they find out that they have nowhere to go, they will have a choice; retreat to where they came from in the first place or leave good people alone.