Will the police bashing stop now?

Syabas, PDRM. I mean, that's the least I can I say, right? For all the bashing, the police went on doing their job, seemingly unfazed. But the cops are human like us, not heartless machines. Credit where it's due. Let's say a big THANK YOU to our men and women in blue. As NST's editorial put it, May the force be with you! 

 KL's crime rates down 40 per cent in 2011

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By Lee Shi-Ian
New Straits Times
Monday, Jan 23, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR - A greater police presence, especially in crime hotspots, and more joint operations with other enforcement agencies have yielded positive results - a 40 per cent reduction in street crimes last year.

This is the objective set under the National Key Result Area for crime prevention which has contributed to a drop in the national crime index by 11.1 per cent, the third year running that police have achieved a reduction in the number of criminal cases. 

The number of murder, rape, armed robbery, gang robbery and house break-in cases also decreased significantly last year. 

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said 157,891 cases were reported last year, down from 177,520 in 2010. 

Most of the reduced street crimes, including snatch thefts and robberies, were in hotspots identified in Penang, Johor, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur in 2009. 

Based on police analysis, more hotspots were added in 2010 and last year and police presence was further stepped up in these areas. 

In the past year, police held joint crime-prevention operations with Rela and the General Operations Force nationwide. 

Police also set up several dedicated task forces to focus on crimes that registered sharp increases in 2010, including house break-ins and sexual offences. 

"We must not rest on our laurels. 2011 was a good year but we want to make 2012 better," Ismail told the New Straits Times. 

It is learnt that police will focus on three main aspects this year as they attempt to keep a lid on crime. 

"Police omnipresence, community policing and communication with the public via various media channels are the three aspects we are looking at. 

"The deployment of 40,000 personnel from the police, Rela and Civil Defence Department this month to fight crime in major towns is a good example. 

"This will give us additional presence on the streets and assist in crime prevention operation. The increased public participation in voluntary patrol schemes in their neighbourhoods points to greater confidence in the force." 

On community policing, police will work closely with the National Unity and Integration Department under the Prime Minister's Department. 

The department promotes the voluntary patrol scheme by supplying equipment and building Rukun Tetangga centres nationwide. 

"We want to establish a smart partnership with residents associations and further enhance the existing relationship," Ismail said. 

Police, he added, also aimed to build closer ties with the media to create awareness among the public on their activities.