Letter: More CCTVs is first step towards crime reduction

THE Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) is installing more street lights and additional closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in crime-prone areas to make the state safer. (StarMetro, June 7).

Such efforts to make George Town safer for both locals and tourists alike are indeed laudable. This is a welcome move for a safe and secure environment. It should not stop there. Further steps by the relevant authorities must continue.

The CCTVs must be maintained in tip-top condition and be functional so that they are useful when the time warrants their dependency.

When a crime is committed, swift action should be taken to rush to the site in order to arrest the culprits. And when the suspects have been arrested, the queuing time for the court process must be short so that the appropriate sentence is meted out.

Today, many of the offenders are repeated ones who have previous criminal records and who are on bail pending court hearings. They should be locked behind bars instead of roaming the streets!

As you can see, installing the street lights and more CCTVs is only the first step. At the end of the day, the statistics of crime must come down and the people feel safe to walk the streets.

I am waiting for the day for the return of ladies carrying handbags and wearing jewellery on the streets like in the good old days. Today, it is only safe to carry recycled shopping bags! Sad but true.