We seriously doubt that head of operations for the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Deputy Commissioner Owen Ellington's statement likening crime and dancehall music will make the slightest impression on the performers and participants.

Still, his observations are not to be taken lightly, not in our current crime situation and with the undoubted influence music has on behaviour.

As reported in yesterday's STAR, the police spoke about not only the lyrics, which contain violent references, but also the promotion of 'don culture'.

However, while we concede that the don is one of the figures who has respect in dancehall, we must point out that donship in Jamaica was not invented by dancehall culture.

It was political.

This does not say, of course, that having not created the monster, dancehall is free to feed it. Nor does it absolve dancehall of the responsibility to help foster an environment in which peace can thrive.

But it does indicate that exorcising the lyrics which have caused the police concerns will not magically and automatically transform the society into a more peaceful one in which the law is kept by the official lawmen only.

So while we encourage those who make and enjoy dancehall music to think seriously about the message behind their lyrics, we also advise the police not to narrow their search for solutions to dancehall.

Remember, at the end of the roots and culture music heyday of the 1970s, Jamaica had its bloodiest election ever in 1980, one year before Bob Marley died.

There were no lyrically shooting deejays around then.