Citizen participation in crime prevention: a study in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| Date | 10 June 2019 |
| Published date | 10 June 2019 |
| Pages | 144-160 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-01-2019-0005 |
| Author | Pang Heng Lau,Kamsiah Ali |
Citizen participation in crime prevention:
a study in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Pang Heng Lau and Kamsiah Ali
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to discuss citizen participation in crime prevention in Kuching,
Malaysia. This is a study of how citizen participated in crime prevention has helped in crime reduction in
Kuching. Roles of citizen in crime prevention with the police have been included in this study. Result showed
that citizen and police joint crime prevention has succeeded in crime reduction in Kuching.
Design/methodology/approach –Three methods of data collection were used in this research study: first,
face-to-face interviews of 500 head of households in Kuching. They are selected using systematic sampling
among the 159,000 households in Kuching. Second, in-depth interviews of 36 respondents involving
community leaders and crime watch groups; and third, secondary crime statistics from the Royal Malaysia
Police. It is based on actual crime reported to the police.
Findings –Police and citizen involvement in crime prevention are effective in reducing crime. Citizen
participation in crime prevention was 80.6 per cent. The higher the frequency police and citizen involvement in
crime prevention patrols, the lesser the level of crime. With increased joint patrol by police and citizen in the
neighbourhood, the level of crime will be lower, and safety will improve, and this is particular valid in the case
of the nine geographical areas covered under Kuching police district.
Research limitations/implications –This study focused on citizen participation in crime prevention in
Kuching police district only.
Practical implications –Police and citizen participation in crime prevention play a key role in crime
reduction. This study argued that police and citizen frequent patrol will improve safety in the community.
Training plays a key role for citizen to participate in crime prevention. Joint crime prevention patrol calls for a
new breed of police officers who can work with the citizens. In return, the citizens trustthe police to lead them
in crime prevention.
Social implications –With citizen participation in crime prevention, the community will be safer, peaceful
resulting in less crime. Citizens acted as an eye and ear to the police. As and when a citizen see a suspicious
person in the neighbourhood, he informs the police. When the police arrives, the suspicious person who may
have a criminal intent will either be arrested by the police or escaped before the police arrived.
Originality/value –This paper provides an insight into crime prevention exercise involving the citizens. The
same concept can be implemented throughout Malaysia. Police needs to involve citizens always in crime
prevention. Police and the community are one big family.
Keywords Crime prevention, Policing, Community policing, Citizen participation, Crime watch
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Preventing and detecting crimes and preserving public peace in Malaysia have been the central
mandate of the police since 1807 (Khan, 2015). The Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) has invited
citizens to participate in crime prevention since 1967 under the “Salleh”system (Sulaiman et al.,
2012). The “Salleh”system based on the Japanese “Koban”system of policing had, in 1967,
evolved to the Malaysian Volunteer Corps Department (RELA), Neighbourhood Watch (Kawasan
Ronda Tetangga (KRT)), Voluntary Patrol Scheme (SRS), Rakan Cop and to the present day
“community policing”(Royal Malaysia Police, 2019).
The reason for having citizen participation in crime prevention is due to increasing concerns over
rising crime rates in the country. Crime occurs in the community, thus by involving citizens in
Received 30 January 2019
Revised 27 April 2019
24 May 2019
Accepted 28 May 2019
Pang HengLau and Kamsiah Ali
are both based at the
Department of SocialSciences
and Humanities, Universiti
Malaysia Sarawak,Kota
Samarahan, Malaysia.
PAGE144
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
j
VOL. 5 NO. 2 2019, pp.144-160, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841 DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-01-2019-0005
crime prevention, the RMP hopes that crimes will be reduced. Members of the community act as
eyes and ears for the police. Citizens inform the police as and when they see suspicious figures in
their neighbourhoods.
Crimes in Malaysia violate the Penal Code (2015). Once a person commits a crime, the law
questions the person’s criminal intent, in effect inquiring whether or not the offender intended to
cause harm by committing the act (Keil and Vito, 1991; Kabukçu, 2006).
Citizen involvement in crime prevention has the following objectives:
1. Prevent citizens from being victimized by criminals.
2. Prevent property losses to burglary.
3. Citizens work together to prevent crime and incivilities in their community, through patrolling,
escorting and block watching. Citizens work with the police in crime prevention by educating
the people in the neighbourhood on crime prevention strategies.
The objectives of this paper are to examine the level of citizen participation in crime prevention in
Kuching and its effectiveness in crime prevention when working with the police.
Kuching demographics
Kuching police district has a total of population of 654,600 (51.3 per cent male and 48.7 per cent
female) and 159,200 households (Department of Statistics Malaysia Sarawak, 2018). The
ethnic composition of the population as of the end of 2017 was: Malay 36.5 per cent; Chinese
37.1 per cent; Iban 11.4 per cent; Bidayuh 12.1 per cent; Melanau 0.64 per cent and other races
2.26 per cent. Thus, Kuching enjoys diverse cultures.
Kuching Police District (Figure 1) has nine police stations: Tabuan Jaya, Sekama, Bintawa,
Sg Maong, Central, Satok, Padungan, Gita and Santubong, covering nine geographical areas.
These areas are served by 982 policemen (Kuching Police District, 2018). Thus, each policeman
Figure 1 Kuching police district geographical area showing the nine police stations
PETUNJUK
SEMPADAN BALAI
KELUASAN IPD KUCHING
573.2(KM PERSEGI)
BP
SANTUBONG
BP GITA
BP BINTAWA
BP TABUAN
JAYA
BP SG.
MANONG
BP SATOK
BP SEKAMA
BP SENTRAL
BP
PANDUNGAN
Source: Kuching police district, 2018
VOL. 5 NO. 2 2019
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
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