Police Commissioner R. Hithendra on Saturday said active public assistance would help the police prevent and detect various crimes, as the police cannot be present everywhere at all times. Eyewitnesses to incidents of crime should come forward to help the police to nab criminals as otherwise the detection process takes a longer time, he said.
He was speaking after inaugurating a seminar on ‘Public Participation in Prevention and Detection of Crime’ at the School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya here. Mr. Hithendra said police are duty-bound to ensure the safety of the general public. In the same way, the public have the social responsibility of assisting the police in discharge of their duties.
The Commissioner said crime investigation in the country is yet to reach advanced stages on the lines of one practiced in the US or UK, where DNA tracing system is adopted. Detecting crimes through finger and foot prints is still new in the country and in such situations eyewitnesses play greater role, he said.
Director of School of Social Work, Philomena D’Souza too stressed the same point and said police too are human beings like others. The tendency to blame the police or the government for every crime should come down and instead people should assist them, she said. Principal of Roshni Nilaya, Sophia N. Fernandes said public participation in crime prevention creates a positive environment.
