Tuesday July 31, 2012

Apply to train mall cops

KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry has encouraged shopping malls and high-rise buildings to train auxiliary police personnel.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop said having auxiliary police present at these buildings would increase the sense of security and reduce the likelihood of criminal activity.

“Currently, KLCC and KL Sentral have auxiliary police while Pavilion has 40 auxiliary police trainees who are expected to graduate by Aug 10,” he told reporters after attending a high-profile policing walkabout at Midvalley Megamall yesterday.

City police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohmad Salleh, his deputy Senior Asst Comm Amar Singh and City CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ku Chin Wah also attended the walkabout.

Abu Seman said Midvalley Megamall was also applying to train auxiliary police personnel.

He said that under the Police Act 1967, these auxiliary police personnel were allowed to carry and use firearms in their duties, unlike normal guards.

“They will have the power to make arrests and their duties will be restricted to the perimeter of the buildings they are assigned to,” he said.

He added that the NKRA division had held discussions with police, Pemandu, the federal Town and Country Planning Department, the Local Government Department and Malaysian Association for Shopping and High-Rise Complex Management to start a “Car Park League Table”.

“A workshop is being arranged to determine standard operating procedures as well as the criteria to evaluate and rank these car parks,” he said.

“Among the criteria are lighting, security features and gadgets, and safety within the car parks.”

Meanwhile, DCP Mohmad said a total of nine crime cases happened at shopping mall car parks within the city since January.

“We have solved a number of the cases, including two which occurred at this shopping mall,” he said.

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