RESIDENTS and grassroots leaders from Zhenghua in Bukit Panjang
town took a bold stroke on Sunday to stamp out gangs and loanshark
activities in their estate.
They launched an anti-gang and anti-loanshark campaign to raise
awareness among residents about these crimes and the hotlines they
can call for help.
Over 200 banners, with the police and anti-loanshark hotlines
printed on them, will be hung up at 105 community clubs and other
locations islandwide from today.
The estate was the scene of a gang-related slashing last month.
Seven youths were injured in two separate attacks by a group of
youths armed with parangs and choppers. Since then, more residents
have joined volunteer patrol groups to keep the area safe.
The Zhenghua ward alone has 115 volunteers in its
Citizens-on-Patrol (COP) programme. Before the incident, it had
about 60 volunteers.
The COP teams have also increased the number of patrols from
once a month to about three times a week.
