Police must be people friendly

Monday August 28, 2006

A more people-friendly police force needed to help reduce crime

THE announcement by Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad that the Government was considering training People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) members to help police tackle the escalating number of snatch thefts may be a good idea but it is not the best solution to the problem, “Rela to fight snatch thieves” (The Star, Aug 24).

Rela members are already operating in crime-prone areas in the Klang Valley but the incidence of snatch thefts in those areas has not reduced significantly.
They may be called in to help the police to fight crime but the main responsibility lies with the police force which must not take this as an excuse to abdicate their duty to protect the people at all cost.

The police must make their presence felt more effectively all over the country.
One of the major drawbacks of the police is that the people are not able to easily reach them in times of need.

They are strangers to the police personnel who do not have any rapport with them. As a result, the people are subjected to so much red tape with the police.
Every attempt must be made to make our police force more people-friendly.
One way to bring them closer to the people is to decentralise the police service and administration.

Every district should be subdivided and mini-police stations with sufficient personnel must be made available.

By doing so more personal and friendly ties can be effectively established between the police and the people in an area.
This would be the best way to reduce crime in that community.

A larger recruitment into the police force may be required to do this but it will be an investment the nation would never regret.

In fact to train Rela members, providing them extra allowances and insurance cover and compensation for injuries or deaths, also incur a large budget.

A crime-free atmosphere is of utmost importance for enhancing economic activities.

DR CHRIS ANTHONY,