Suburban
Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter
THE Mabelreign Crime Liaison Committee has stepped up efforts to fight crime in the suburb as criminals employ sophisticated tactics to dispossess residents of their belongings.
In an interview, Mabelreign CLC chairperson for Mabelreign Police Station Mr Brian McKenzie said security is a very complex issue in that it keeps changing urging residents to be always practical and relevant to the times they are living in.
He said the combination of changing security needs and the advancement in tactics which criminals use have compelled them to step up efforts in various ways to combat crime.
“What we have done here in Mabelreign is that we have stepped up our strategies to try and match the kind of crimes that are happening in our area. We have stepped up on our patrols mixing times where we think we are most vulnerable, both location and time zones. The other thing that we have done a lot is on the neighbourhood watch level, we are encouraging neighbourhood watch committees to step up and become vibrant and visible. In Cotswold Hills we have introduced cycling for neighbourhood watch patrol members. It’s easier to do this on cycles rather than walking. It adds to the effectiveness and efficient response. I know Sentosa also has a vibrant neighbourhood watch and I know part of Madokero also as well as Aurora Terrace. So these are few examples of people who are stepping up and making a difference,” said Mr McKenzie.
He said a vibrant neighborhood watch makes it easy for police to keep tabs with what’s on the ground.
“Communication is improved when active neighbourhood watch teams are constantly visible and interacting with communities they represent, Tip offs and the like become easy to convey. The police are then alerted to such. I encourage every suburb within Mabelreign to engage in neighbourhood watch patrols. This is maybe the most effective way especially if they do it at street level. Street level patrol is very effective it gets every house in that street to get involved,” said Mr McKenzie.
Neighbourhood watches are of a range of crime prevention and community safety strategies commonly used worldwide.
Most of the neighbourhood watches are not funded at a community level by the police or any other Government organisation. Instead, neighbourhood watches are resourced through fund-raising, sponsorships and have at their core, dedicated volunteers in each local community. Neighbourhood watches are community based, crime prevention strategies that aim to reduce localised crime and fear of crime by promoting and coordinating multifaceted approaches to prevention and problem solving.
