KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman’s Volunteer Smartphone Patrol (VSP) mobile application, which allows the public to submit information on crime, public safety and suspicious activity to the authorities, has proven to be a big hit.
Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department (JPJKK) deputy director Deputy Comm Datuk Aida Abdul Hamid said the VSP app has been used by the public to submit more than 877,907 reports and tip-offs since its introduction on March 25, 2017
"As of Nov 24, we already have a total of 1,659,106 VSP members.
"The VSP is one of the police’s most active community policing channels.
"The platform records an average of 3,313 reports every month, translating to approximately 36,101 submissions annually," she told The Star.
The VSP app, launched on Police Day on March 25, 2017, is an extension of the RakanCop programme implemented since 2004.
Using the VSP app, smartphone users in the country can send real-time photos or videos of criminal acts, accidents and natural disasters.
The app makes it easier and faster to relay such incidents than call-based methods, besides adding more accuracy to the process since the location information is transmitted and users are pre-registered.
Among the categories logged, the “Balik Kampung” feature is the most widely used, with 30,868 reports submitted by homeowners seeking police patrols while travelling or celebrating festive seasons, DCP Aida said.
"This is followed by general complaints (3,680) and panic button alerts (429)," she added.
DCP Aida said Selangor leads in overall usage with 8,815 reports, followed by Johor (4,993) and Perak (2,886).
"At the district level, Kuantan (1,455), Seri Alam (1,280) and Melaka Tengah (1,210) recorded the highest number of submissions.
"We believe it is due to higher population density and urban activity," she lamented.
DCP Aida said the VSP app has significantly improved response times thanks to its real-time two-way communication system.
"Each report is automatically routed to the respective Contingent Control Centre (CCC), which then channels the information to the nearest district police headquarters (IPD) based on the user’s location.
"The integration of photos, videos and GPS coordinates also allows patrol units to respond quickly with better situational awareness," she said.
Feedback from both the public and police personnel has been generally positive, she added.
"Most users cited ease of reporting and officers noting improved information quality and more effective preventive patrols," she said.
Looking ahead, DCP Aida said the police plan to intensify outreach efforts through collaborations with schools, community organisations, Rukun Tetangga groups, NGOs and media partners to further boost participation.
"We will also enhance digital engagement on official social media platforms and upgrade the app with more user-friendly features and safety tools.
"These initiatives are part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening community-based crime prevention and fostering a more proactive and responsive policing ecosystem," she said.
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