Friday October 5, 2012

Police roping in volunteers to beef up community security

Reports by ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN and RASHITA A. HAMID

KUALA LUMPUR: Teachers, doctors, businessmen and other people of good standing in the community are to be roped in to beef up the police volunteer reserve from 5,000 to 15,000 personnel.

At the same time, a separate recruitment exercise will be carried out soon to meet the target announced by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when he tabled Budget 2013 last Friday.

The move is in line with the community policing concept practised in countries such as Britain, where volunteers help police tackle low-level crime and anti-social behaviour.

Increasing the visibility of the men in blue, as Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar noted, made a community safer.

People’s interest first: Ismail (right) discussing ways to improve community safety with The Star’s chief news editor Devid Rajah (second from left) at the Bukit Aman police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The IGP said the recruitment of teachers was still in the planning stage and he would speak to the relevant authorities to get their permission.

“Teaching will still be their priority and they can perform their PVR duties in their free time,” Ismail stressed yesterday.

He said the teachers chosen would not only watch over schools but also help police ensure safety in the neighbourhood.

“They can also wear their uni-form to school to reassure parents about their children's safety,” he added.

Peacekeeper: PVR officer Inderjit Kaur, 42, chatting with schoolchildren while patrolling at Kampung Medan in Petaling Jaya. The volunteer police officer runs her own hair salon. — AHMAD MOHSIN DADAMEAH / The Star

Ismail said state police chiefs had been told to start identifying the schools and neighbourhoods that needed PVR officers.

“With teachers as PVR officers, we can deploy fewer policemen at schools,” he said, adding that police and Rela personnel were now being placed outside schools from time to time.

He emphasised that teachers and other respected individuals would not only be helping the police but serving their community as well by agreeing to be part of the PVR.

On the recruitment exercise, he said applicants must be physically fit and without any criminal record.

News

Friday October 5, 2012

Police roping in volunteers to beef up community security

Reports by ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN and RASHITA A. HAMID