Ng (seated, fifth right) and senior officers from Padawan headquarters with recipients of the commendation certificates.
KUCHING: Civilians have been urged to be actively involved in community policing programmes to tackle crimes in their areas more effectively.
Padawan District police chief Supt Ng Ah Lek said their participation was a vital aspect in keeping the spread of criminal activities in residential areas in check.
“The police are unable to be present everywhere, 24 hours at one time. As such, community policing is an important platform to raise awareness of crime prevention among the public. It also allows them to work hand-in-hand with police.
“It is everyone’s responsibility when it comes to fighting crime. I urge more civilians to be active in community policing associations, especially in Padawan, in order to better protect your areas from any criminal element,” he said at the monthly parade held at Padawan District police headquarters near here yesterday.
Ng also called on governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community associations and the media to help expand such programmes to all levels of society to maximise its impact.
On the crime rate in Padawan, he said so far this year it recorded a drop of 232 cases or 23.32 per cent compared to the same period last year, which included 35 fewer reported street crime cases.
Ng also disclosed that the number of individuals caught for drug abuse in Padawan rose to 490 this year, from 267 last year — a situation he attributed to the increase in number of operations and raids conducted by the district’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Department.
Ng also congratulated personnel from the Crime Investigation Department (CID) for their effort in solving several high profile cases — involving murder, rape and vehicle theft — over the past month, thanks to intelligence gathering and information from the public.
The monthly parade, which was also attended by Padawan District deputy police chief DSP Yap Fui Lee, also held a presentation of outstanding service certificates to 42 personnel and civilian staff as well as commendation to 10 members of the public, including a kapitan and a penghulu, for recent efforts in helping police fight crime.