ROLE OF OFFICERS WILL BE RESTRUCTURED TO REDUCE STREET CRIMES

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- The role of officers at ministry,
department and agency level will be restructured aimed at reducing street crimes
by 20 percent.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the move which involves himself and
his two deputies was to ensure that decisions to tackle crime would be monitored
closely.

The move was in line with the wishes and announcement by Prime Minister
Najib Razak recently, he said in a statement here Friday.

With the move, officers would be given specific roles to monitor preventive,
enforcement, rehabilitation, prosecution, among others.

Hishammuddin said he together with the Prime Minister's Department would
focus on prosecution and the creation of special courts to try street crime
cases and community service cases.

"I will discuss ways to expand the role of the Civil Defence Department
(JPAM) and the People's Volunteer Corps (RELA). Cooperation of the Youth and
Sports Ministry is also needed."

He said crime prevention would also be stepped up with involvement of the
Federal Territories Ministry to ensure that adequate lighting and closed-circuit
cameras were installed at public places.

A police officer from Bukit Aman with the status of department director
would also be appointed to ensure that decisions made by the ministry could be
smoothly implemented.

Hishammuddin also said the community would be more involved and that the
ministry would expand cooperation with non-governmental organisations (NGO).

"I want to make the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation the main NGO
centre to coordinate community involvement."
-- BERNAMA