Sector system to check crimes

KUALA LUMPUR: Police are reintroducing the sector system in a bid to reach out to the people to combat crimes more effectively. 

Director of Management Datuk Kamarudin Ali said that under the system, which was used in colonial days, personnel who had completed their work shifts would go out to mix with the local community to get feedback. 

“This approach is expected to be more effective in view of the limited number of police personnel,” he told reporters after closing a crime prevention seminar for 512 officers in charge of stations here yesterday. 

He said the reintroduction of the sector system was one of five resolutions adopted at the seminar. 

Police personnel doing their rounds would be constables and they would be supervised by a corporal or a sergeant, he said. 

Kamarudin said at a higher level of the system, a zone sector officer with the rank of inspector would be appointed to monitor the situation. 

He urged the public and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) to come forward and give information to the police to help check crimes. 

Kamarudin said the seminar also felt that half of the 533 police stations should be given allocations to upgrade and expand lock-ups. 

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai had met the Treasury about this matter, he said. 

“Half of the lockups at police stations need to be repaired and upgraded, and this will be done in stages,” he said. 

The other resolutions were on stepping up patrols, sprucing up enquiry offices and implementing smart resource management, he said. –Bernama