Pro-active System curbs crime

The measures under the Pro-active Policing System in the last six months helped CMP curb crime and improve law and order in the city, CMP sources said quoting a recent statistics.

During January 1 to June 30, the number of criminal cases filed in 12 thanas of the city came down to 1375 against 2067 of the corresponding period of last year. Incidents of serious crimes like robbery, mugging, and murder came down to a half compared to the first six months of last year.

Under the Pro-active Policing system, 42 check-posts were set up at all the entry points, important thoroughfares and intersections in the city.

Police patrols at residential areas, key-point installations, markets, banks, insurance offices, petrol pumps and important city streets have been beefed up. Police provided around 360 Money Escort Duties to different farms and persons on an average every month.

The Record Collection Cell opened at CMP Detective Branch (DB) preserved photographs, clues of crimes and other relevant information about the criminals. List of extortionists, abductors, muggers and armed miscreants and Record Collection Cell helped easier identification and arrest of criminals.

Newly formed special monitoring team, prosecution task force, metropolitan community policing unit and introduction of computer network system were some of the important features of the Pro-active Policing system.

The special monitoring team headed by AC (DB) and comprising court police inspectors and thana police monitors arrest, bail and movement of criminals. The prosecution task force reviews important cases, helps production of witnesses and proves the allegation against the accused.

Most of the criminals in the city are known to each others. The mezban (traditional feast) gives Chittagong people an opportunity for close interaction with different types of people including criminals, CMP sources said. As such, no criminal can escape arrest if people cooperate with the law enforcers.

Keeping this in mind Metropolitan Community Policing was introduced in the city on July 26 last year.

Out of 933 listed criminals of the city, 664 were arrested while 269 remained absconding, according to a recent CMP statistics. Of the arrested, 342 are in jail and 322 released on bail. The accused released on bails are under close vigilance.

Of the listed criminals 70 were top-notch ones. Of them, 60 were arrested.

Out of 466 listed extortionists, 325 were arrested. Of 107 listed abductors, 78 were arrested while 141 of 261 armed miscreants were put behind the bar. Only 146, out of 320 listed muggers, were arrested.

Many of the arrested criminals, however, were released on bail and engaged in criminal activities again.

Twenty murders, 11 robberies, 31 mugging and 131 theft were reported in the city in the last six months (till June 30) as against 37 murders, 22 robberies, 83 mugging and 226 incidents of thefts of the corresponding period of last year.

Seventy-six incidents of oppression on women and children were reported as against 134 of previous period.

However, the statistics showed a little improvement in law and order as far as incidents of abduction and rape were concerned. During this period 18 abductions and 20 rapes were reported as against previous corresponding period's 20 and 26 respectively.

However, many of the crimes remain unrecorded as the victims do not get proper response or expected result from the authorities concerned, people and other sources said.