TTDI crime rate down by 40% through pilot project

KUALA LUMPUR: Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) has reaped the rewards of being one of the first residential areas to be part of the modern policing initiative almost 20 months ago by experiencing a significant reduction in crime rate.

The pilot programme that started in June 2016 helped bring the crime rate down by 40%, as well as improve overall public perception of crime in the area.

TTDI police station chief Deputy Supt Ahmad Mohsin Md Rodi said the programme has brought the community and police closer together.

“We hold monthly meetings with the residents and keep an open dialogue with them.

“Residents also feel safer as a recent study by Pemandu showed that public perception of crime in TTDI dropped from 59% in 2016 to only 18% in 2017,” he said at a Chinese New Year event at the TTDI market yesterday.

IGP Secretariat (Corporate Communications) chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Asmawati Ahmad also attended the event and met with members of the public.

The modern policing initiative is a collaboration of the Home Ministry, Pemandu and the Malaysian Digital Economy Corp aimed at speeding up tasks and giving police personnel ample time to investigate cases.

This includes better equipment for the personnel, including protective gear for police officers, logistics tools, as well as nonlethal weapons like stun guns, body cameras and other system enhancements.

The Online Police Reporting System, which allows the public to lodge online police reports for noncriminal cases such as lost identity cards or passports, is also part of the programme.

TTDI residents were all smiles when they greeted police personnel during their meet and greet at the Chinese New Year celebration event.

Resident and Vila Laman Cahaya Resident Association president Datuk Ahmad Termizi Puteh said the modern policing programme worked well with the existing community policing programme.

“It is added value for us here as we can see them out patrolling and keeping us safe,” he said.

Event organiser TTDI Market Traders Association chairman Jenny Loo also praised the new methods being introduced through modern policing.

“The online reporting system is very good as it used to be a hassle to lodge police reports previously.

“The relationship between the people and the police has also improved significantly,” she said.