FIGHTING INSECURITY

The police force wants your help

12-23-2008 | FATIMA ASVAT

fasvatstar@laestrella.com.pa

Given the recent hike in crimes and the overall insecurity this holiday season, the National Police force is unveiling its latest recruits: you

Panama Star PANAMA. Police forces are responding to the call for better security by askingPanamanians to come together and form neighbourhood watchdog teams. Their recruiting activities include distributing pamphlets in packed supermarkets and malls.

Neighborhood watchdogs is a program of mutual help among neighbors and with the collaboration of the National Police to plan surveillance runs in hopes of decreasing delinquent activities. According to the pamphlets, the program helps better relations between neighbors, and brings about a better interaction between community members and the policeme joining together in the fight against crime.

The program works through a series of loud ringers, similar to door bells which neighbors are asked to activate if they see a suspicious person or car loitering around, along with calling the police.

Neighbors who listen to the ring are then supposed to activate their own and call the police as well, creating a chain reaction of 20 houses, with 20 ringers activated that should dissuade the delinquent(s) from committing acrime.

Police forces also provide a whistle to be used in case of energy outages. Both can be used not only to alert others to possible delinquent activities, but also fires, domestic violence, etc.

Look for the complete information in printed version, page 1E