Paradigm shift needed in fight against crime

I REFER to “Rela in the mall” (The Star, July 13). The authorities have insisted that the crime rate is down and that too it is on the decline. I beg to differ.

The fact that almost everyone know someone who has been a victim of crime lately is testament to this. This is further enhanced by the increasing number of gated communities and the calls for more public participation in voluntary patrols.