DATUK Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s call to the police to strike fear in the hearts of criminals is most timely, given the force’s 202nd Police Day celebrations last week (”PM calls for a strong, effective police force” — NST, March 26).

Definitely there is a lot more to be done to satisfy these aspirations of society, and in this respect it is heartening to note that there are plans to beef up the force with three deputy inspectors-general of police — one for intelligence gathering, one for operations and the third for administration.

The first two will go a long way in getting to the pulse of the crime situation.

With proper training and focus, the frontline policemen will ultimately become more professional in the receiving and handling of initial information from members of the public. This will be an excellent start to the revival of public confidence and trust in the force.

But merely creating these new posts without filling it with the right people will be an exercise in futility. Officers who know how the criminal mind works and have the policing skills to neutralise their activities must be carefully picked for this task.

There must be no stone left unturned in the fight to bring criminals to justice. Only police officers who have gone through the mill and have the right experience will be able to do this effectively.

It is heartening to note that the IGP has made a personal pledge to uphold the main tenets of the force through four main thrusts — fighting and solving crime; upholding peace; assuring the public the police are always with them; and guarding against the evils of corruption and abuse of power.

It is a truly big task given that there has been considerable erosion of public trust and confidence in the force of late. This is because many previous assurances and plans made by the leadership to improve the force have fallen short. This, coupled with many negative incidents involving policemen, has made the task even harder, though it is clearly unfair to generalise and blame the whole force for the misdeeds of a few black sheep.

Nevertheless, it is imperative that this time the police get it right and have a concrete follow-up plan in line with all the assurances.

Statistics on crime alone are not enough to appease the public as there is a rising concern over personal safety.

People are worried about the crime situation, and the manner and boldness with which many criminals seem to operate.

The creation of another six new departments in addition to the existing seven is a step in the right direction, as it will lead to a greater specialisation of tasks, which in turn will mean better productivity.

In a democratic society, the police function depends on self-policing by every citizen, and this has to be the ultimate goal in the enforcement of law and order. Police officers function most effectively when they are supported by a moral consensus of the community and, therefore, modern community policing will become an increasingly crucial factor in successful crime-fighting. This approach must balance the security and safety of the public in relation to physical police duties.

Last but not least, the police too have to accept the overall recommendations of the Royal Commission’s report to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Force, which was completed in 2005.

That was a truly far-sighted report and addressed most of the shortfalls in the police force. With the right measures and people in place, we can really send shivers down the spines of would-be criminals.

G. SELVA, Ipoh

Source: NST – March 31, 2009