Kerala - Kochi   

Community policing shows results

KOCHI: The City Police are presenting the arrest of a long-absconding burglar as the success of community policing drive. Johnson, of Kulachal in Kanyakumari district, who was arrested on Thursday was wanted in nearly 100 burglary cases over past 17 years.

He was arrested by Ernakulam Town North Circle Inspector D.S. Suneesh Babu after he was challenged and overpowered by Sony Thomas and Sharun Jose, residents of Dr. George Road. Both of them were out on night patrol, and would be given Citizen Police Awards, which carries a purse of Rs.5,000 and a plaque.

Community policing has been implemented in all police stations in the city limits, well ahead of the Janamaitri Suraksha Paddhathi, the State-wide community policing initiative.

As a result the combined night patrols by police and residents associations have been going on effectively across the city.

“This is reflected in the big drop in theft cases. Earlier, Kochi city used to register nearly 100 cases every month, out of which 20 to 30 cases were detected.

Now, the number of cases being registered has come down to around 30 and we could detect 25 of them. This is because we get more time for investigation,” said Mr. Abraham.

Of late, the Police Residents Association Initiative in District Ernakulam (PRIDE) meetings at Circle Inspector-level meetings has not been fulfilling its objective.

These meetings were supposed to discuss and resolve the local issues as well as coordinate community policing steps like combined night patrols.

“At the last PRIDE meeting, it was made clear that the meetings should be held regularly and only issues of common interest would be taken up at the monthly meeting,” said P. Rangadasa Prabhu, president of Ernakulam District Residents Associations Apex Council (EDRAAC).

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