Crime prevention also the responsibility of public — Abdul Aziz
KUCHING: Crime prevention is not the responsibility of the police alone, said Abdul Aziz Isa, special officer to Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen.
While urging the police to make more frequent patrols in hot spot areas where many house breakins and thefts occur, he said the community also has a role to play in public safety – that is to be the eyes and ears of the police.
“The community has a role to play, these days, how many of us actually know our neighbours? We do not have any communications with our neighbours, we do not have the sense of responsibility, we need to have this sense of responsibility like how it used to be before,” said Abdul Aziz when representing Chong at the launching of the neighbourhood watch ( KRT) and voluntary patrol scheme ( SRS) for Tabuan Tranquillity Phase 4 ( TT4) here yesterday.
He said break-ins or thefts which are believed to be committed by drug addicts could be lessened if neighbours take a positive approach to stand together and foster understanding, unity and harmony among each other.
However, he urged the public not to spread news of police patrols on social media.
“By going to social media to notify everyone on the patrols made by the police and road blocks, you are not only notifying the bad hats of what’s happening but also damper the efforts made by the police,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kuching district police head of car patrol, ASP Mohd Fauzi Mohammat, reminded that crime will happen when there is opportunity.
“If we allow it, the opportunity will come even if you fix closed circuit television (CCTV) at your house. How many of you actually know the contact numbers of your neighbours who live next to you? What if the house broken into is yours, would you know your neighbour’s number?” asked Mohd Fauzi.
He said when making reports, the public should always provide complete information like photo or facial description of the perpetrator and location of the crime.
Meanwhile, KRT chairman of TT4, Norizan Jili, said the KRT was established due to rampant crime in the area.
“Here in TT4, we have too many access roads going in and out from this area. If we catch one here, the other person might be able to escape using another exit,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kuching Division unity officer Abdul Rasid Mahsin said TT4 KRT and SRS were approved by Department of National Unity and Integration on October 2018 and January this year respectively.