Yahoo!
Newsroom – 10 hours
ago
A new initiative will ensure more resources are given to
Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPC) to allow police officers to
effectively combat crime on the ground.
Known as the Next Generation Front-line Policing
Model, it will improve the way NPCs work with the community, said
Second Minister for Home Affairs S. Iswaran on
Monday.
Unveiling details of the measure at a conference on
community policing strategies, he said one of its key factor is to
create better responsiveness in tackling crimes at the community
level. This means bringing in more resources from the six land
divisions to the NPCs.
Currently, there are 33 such centres with two more
slated to open in Punggol and Woodlands West next year,
reported The Straits
Times.
With this, each centre will have a dedicated
crime-fighting team which enables it to be better-equipped to
conduct anti-crime operations as well as raids and
checks.
Another important factor of this model is to build
the relationship between the NPCs and the community through a team
of specially selected and trained officers which will be stationed
at the centres.
Their main role is to engage the community
stakeholders, providing advice and actively participate in
community projects, said Iswaran.
Apart from boosting ground patrol so that police
officers are more informed of residential areas and can build trust
within the community, the minister also said the police officers
will use technology to ensure its constant presence and safekeeping
the community.
This will be done by installing closed-circuit TV
cameras at key entrances and exits of all HDB blocks and
multi-storey carparks as well as employ technology at the
Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPP) so that officers are not just
chained to their desks.
Iswaran noted that the finalised details of this
plan will be announced by the first quarter of next year, and will
be incorporated in three to five years.
He also underscored the importance of community
efforts to help police officers in combating crimes and securing
the safety of the neighbourhoods.
9999990-----------]