KUALA LUMPUR: With the rise of criminal activity inside high-rise apartments, fighting and detecting these “vertical” crimes are a bigger challenge than combating crime on ground level, says the city’s top cop.
According to Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, ganja farms on the 12th and 18th floors as well as call centres are among the more rampant “vertical” criminal activities taking place.
“Nowadays, more people are staying in apartments and condominiums, and that is a challenge to us because we don’t have a presence on every floor. We only patrol on the ground. The presence of an attentive community is imperative in assisting us,” he said after officiating an Amanita (Women Peace Police Squad) programme in Taman Bukit Cheras.
In a related matter, a study is underway to see the viability of deploying robots to assist in crime fighting here in the city.
Comm Mohd Shuhaily said that such robots could be used to help boost police presence in an area.
“Perhaps we can install community elements into it. It’s not such a sophisticated thing now as you see robots being used at nasi kandar restaurants too,” he said.
While the idea is still in a conceptual phase, Comm Mohd Shuhaily said Kuala Lumpur Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department head Senior Asst Comm Beh Eng Lai had recently visited a robotics factory for this matter.
“I think it’s high time that the police engaged technology, even basic technology, to facilitate policing and the community.
“It will also have to function appropriately to the context of its location. If I deploy it at a mall, it will have to act differently than if it is at a housing area or airport, and all that has to be taken into consideration,” he said.
