Public must help in effort for crime-free community

Not only big business establishments but even churches and recreational facilities are required to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras as part of the intensified anti-crime measures by the Cebu City government.

This after the City Council recently approved unanimously the amendment of City Ordinance 2381, which used to require only big business establishments and condominiums in the city to install CCTV cameras for security.

Part of the amendment now includes CCTV for establishments with annual gross sales of least P5 million. Under the amended ordinance, CCTV footage must be surrendered to police authorities following a crime.

We do hope this development will help deter crimes in the city. Each establishment needs to do its part in the effort to prevent crimes because the city police, given their limited resources and manpower, cannot do it alone.

Yes, it’s the prime responsibility of the police to protect the people, the reason why they are into law enforcement in the first place. However, they cannot really solve every crime without the help of the public.

Public cooperation is one very crucial thing in crime solution. As police investigators scour for evidence and clues in a particular crime, testimonies from witnesses and other from the community are vital to its solution.

And, yes, public awareness is another important thing that would help solve crimes. A neighborhood that is attentive to the need to avert crimes is a community that is giving premium to the safety of its members.

Therefore, when an establishment or household puts up a CCTV camera - whether it is a requirement or not - it is a signal of cooperation and participation in the call for a crime-free neighborhood. And that also means the public is really doing its share in the campaign for a safe and peaceful community.