Get involved in fighting crime

You can help play your part by reporting crime and anti-social behaviour to the MARAH site when you see it.

COMMENT

MARAH (Malaysians Against Rape, Assault & SnatcH) is actively looking for corporate sponsors to set up our crime-prevention portal.

This is a proposed free service to Malaysians to offer a platform to monitor neighbourhoods, tip off the police and residents of suspicious characters in their neighbourhoods, provide assistance for emergencies, and help with police reports.

It is an avenue not only to share information, crime mapping, hot spot detection, safety tips, knowledge, safety demos, and resources but also maintain a support group for victims.

Women and young girls are often the targets of snatch thefts, abductions and violent sexual assaults. We aim to provide crucial support, post-crime trauma counselling, and independent advocacy for these victims in confidence – all in a safe and non-threatening environment.

Our crime prevention portal aims to stop crime before it occurs and is not to be confused with a crime mapping site, which merely documents crime after it has happened.

MARAH’s 24-hour real-time crime prevention portal proposes to offer the following services:

• the public can report suspicious characters/activities via their Smartphones and social media channels;
• liaising with the various district police departments to tip them off;
• crime prevention tips, strategies, knowledge and demos;
• crime mapping;
• arranging for community policing in neighbourhoods;
• support services for victims – resources, police reports, post-crime trauma support groups;
• discounts on bulk purchase for CCTVs, alarm systems, security guard services, security tint film; and
• giving talks in schools/corporations on crime awareness

The prevention of crime is a key requirement for a safe and secure society. It is a prerequisite for sound economic growth through continuing business investment as well as community well-being and cohesion.

The police alone cannot prevent crime. Granted, a massive police recruitment exercise not seen in Malaysia for the past 43 years is set to take off next year, thanks to Budget 2013. Currently, there are 110,000 police personnel serving 28.3 million people. That translates to one police officer for every 257 people in Malaysia.

Play your part

Will the ordinary Malaysians feel any safer by just doubling police personnel to, say, 220,000, bringing the ratio of one police officer to 128 people? Isn’t it the quality of the police force rather than the quantity that will make us sleep better?

This is the reason government agencies, community groups, businesses and individuals need to combine their resources with MARAH to fight crimes before they happen.

Thinking that it can only happen to someone else and doing nothing to prepare yourself or not taking the necessary precautionary measures makes you the perfect victim for criminals.

A crime always happens when an unprepared victim offers an opportunity and the perpetrator seizes it.

Making yourself less of a target is as simple as joining the MARAH Crime Prevention Portal initiative.

For starters, you will get to know your neighbours. You’ll pay attention to the cars normally parked on your street, and which of your neighbours is having renovation work done on their house. You might even know which of your neighbours is away for any length of time during our many festive seasons.

With that information, you’re more likely to know when something unusual is happening on your street, or when something just doesn’t look right. By keeping an eye on your neighbours, and them doing the same for you, we can collectively help the police stop crimes or, at the very least, reduce them.

If you want to make sure your community is as safe as possible, one of the best things to do is to get involved and help. The starting point is to report crime if you see it, but there are lots of ways you can tackle crime and protect your loved ones and your neighbourhood.

The police and other public services can’t tackle crime alone. If people don’t report crime or come forward as witnesses, it can be hard for them to solve cases and bring criminals to justice. You can help play your part by reporting crime and anti-social behaviour to the MARAH site when you see it.

If you or anyone you know is able to assist MARAH with our plans for the crime prevention portal, please do get in touch with us. Thank you, for doing your part in reclaiming a safer Malaysia for our loved ones. Remember, any crime committed is one crime too many.

Visit MARAH Facebook here

http://www.facebook.com/MARAH4safety

Dave Avran is the founder of MARAH (Malaysians Against Rape, Assault & snatcH).