Kerala - Kochi   

Combined night patrolling slackens

KOCHI: With almost no major cases of house-breaks reported from the city in recent times, the combined night patrolling by police and residents have lagged a bit. The number of combined patrolling beats has been reduced in many stations.

“The main reason for this is the beginning of examination season. This means, youngsters will stay away from patrolling,” said Manoj Abraham, City Police Commissioner.

Only minor house-breaks have been reported from the city and none were committed during night in the last three months. “Also, we could detect almost all crimes committed during last year,” said the Commissioner.

It is pointed out that one of the prize catches during last year was made with the help of local residents. Johnson, also known as Mariyarbhootham, who was wanted in nearly 35 cases of house-breaks during the last 13 years, was challenged by two residents on night patrol. The residents, Sony Thomas and Sharun Jose, were given awards as part of the effort to promote community policing.

However, police officers and representatives of residents associations admit that a sense of complacency has set in. “We will be forming an action plan to infuse a new vigour to night patrolling. No new patrol teams have been formed recently, even though we are trying to retain those already formed,” said P.K. Gopalakrishnan, general secretary of Ernakulam District Residents Association Apex Council (EDRAAC).

The action plan will be formed at the next general body meeting scheduled to be held at EMS Memorial Town Hall on March 1. The format of the questionnaire to be distributed for collecting details of permanent and temporary residents in the area will also be finalised at the meeting.

The City Police have also initiated the move to install surveillance cameras in all ATM points. As banks needed permission from their head offices for installing cameras, applications have been moved.

“The banks will retain the images taken by these cameras, which we can access whenever required,” said Mr. Abraham. The system will also help in training private security personnel.

Batches of private security personnel are given advanced training in crime fighting at the Armed Reserve Camp. This is being done as part of supporting the night patrolling police teams.

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