Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Residents learn about crime prevention from the experts

The New Straits Times, Wed 31 March 2010

OME 1,000 Cheras Perdana residents braved the scorching 39 degree heat to participate in a community policing event recently.

They learnt about how crime can be reduced through an exhibition and demonstrations by the police.

The half-day event, which took place on the grounds of the Bandar Tun Hussein Onn Carrefour, was organised by the Kajang police district contingent and the Cheras Perdana Neighbourhood Watch committee in collaboration with private organisations.

In his speech, Selangor deputy police chief Datuk A. Thaiveegan said it was crucial for the public to be more vigilant and to help the police fight crime. As the population continued to increase, he said, the public would play an important role in passing on information to assist in investigations.

He said the public should learn about crime prevention methods to keep their neighbourhoods safe.

He said the majority of crimes in the state were committed by youths.

He added that about 75 per cent of serious and drug-related crimes were carried out by them.

Thaiveegan said community policing programmes could help to increase their awareness of the pitfalls of crime and lead to better behaviour within thepatterns alongside the family unit.

“Under the ‘Ready to Serve’ concept, police have stepped up efforts to fight crime by taking a proactive stand to reduce red tape in order to make it easier for the public to lodge reports.

“Police have been conducting community policing programmes to equip the public with crime prevention knowledge and increasing patrols in crime-prone areas,” he said.

An example of this, said Thaiveegan, was the initiative launched recently to allow the public to lodge reports with police personnel on the ground without going to a police station.

He added that collective effort was needed toin the shared responsibility of reduce crime and is needed to ensure peace and unity in the country.

Kajang police chief ACP Mohd Sakaruddin Che Mood said there was a reduction in the crime rate in the Cheras Perdana area with robbery and snatch theft leading in number.

At the Batu 9 police station, the number of there were reductions to serious crime cases recorded fell from 599 in 2008 to 466 last year and robbery cases fellhad fallen from 1,648 in 2008 to 1,353 last year. The area has some 250,000 residents.

In Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, there was a slight increase in serious crime cases from 116 in 2008 to 121 last year. But thebut saw a reducing number of robberies reported declined from 334 cases reported in 2008 to 314 cases last year. There are about 7,000 residents here.

“This was due to a stronger rapport between the public and the police which led to better allocation of resources such as manpower and more effective investigation methods,” said Mohd Sakaruddin.

Cheras Perdana Neighbourhood Watch committee chairman Mansor Sulaiman said: “Various private organisations, NGOs, village heads and residents’ associations worked together to make this event a success and we thanked the police for the for sharing what is community policing programme.”
The public mingled with the top brass of the state Selangor police contingent while being entertained by demonstrations and performances.

The show began with a 1Malaysia dance performance by 20 students from SMK Cheras Perdana.

A T-baton demonstration by 28 officers from the Kajang police district headquarters followed. They showed the crowd how the retractable T-baton is used to disarm and arrest criminals.

Ten officers from the district then staged a poco poco line dance performance to five songs.

A K-9 unit from Pulapol who demonstrated how police dogs are used to apprehend criminals.

There were 10 stalls exhibiting various crime prevention methods and other items set up by police and government agencies.

The Kajang police contingent received 10 Lenovo netbooks from the Masterskill University College of Health Sciences.

The college staff and students offered free medical check-ups, blood grouping tests and physiotherapy treatment to the public.

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