Lilongwe Model Police Station officer-in-charge James Munthali has said the anti-riot vehicles parked at strategic sites, the ad-hoc police road blocks and increased patrols by police officers are signs of the determination of the Malawi Police Service (MPS) to crack down on criminal activities in the capital city.
He said this at a meeting on Friday where a new station executive forum that champions community policing in Lilongwe District was elected at MPS Central Region Training Centre in Area Three in Lilongwe.
“This increased police presence is not just there for window-dressing. We are determined to root out all criminal activities in Lilongwe and our appeal is that you continue helping us through community policing, which has proved to be a valuable civilian response to fighting crime,” Munthali said.
Community policing activities include civilians actively participating in cornering and arresting known and suspected criminals through patrols in townships.
The station executive forum comprises many stakeholders, including other nationals such as Nigerians and the Chinese as well as Malawians of Asian descent who have business and home security interests.
Munthali expressed happiness that the cooperation between MPS and the public has borne fruits as evidenced by an 8.6 percent decline in the criminal cases reported at Lilongwe Police Station this year (4 023) as compared to 4 403 cases this year during a similar period last year.
The newly-elected chairperson, the Reverend Edson Jere, said his committee will promote resource mobilisation to provide enough tools and funds to fight crime. n
