The Role Of Neighbourhood Watch In Reducing Crimes In The Community

Background Information of Neighbourhood Watch

The Malaysian government in 1975 with its original purpose of ensuring the safety of the locals established the Neighbourhood Watch. The Neighbourhood Watch Essential Regulations Act 1975 has been promulgated for its establishment. While dealing with crime is the responsibility of the police, the community itself also plays an important role in protecting themselves and their families. Collaboration between the police and the community is vital to strengthen the security and to reduce crimes.

The late Tun Abdul Razak, the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, launched the Neighbourhood Watch scheme on 29 August 1975 in Kampung Kasipillay, Kuala Lumpur. The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is established under the Essential Rule (Rukun Tetangga) in the Emergency Ordinance 1969. The initial establishment of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme was to ensure the safety of the population in certain areas as well as promoting national unity. In 2001, the emphasize of the program changed to the community development and ultimately create harmony in the society (Khan, 2013; Abdullah et al., 2013).

The Parliament of Malaysia passed the Rukun Tetangga Act in 2012 [Act751]. The act provides law relating to neighbourhood watch and Voluntary Patrolling Scheme and other related matters. Section 8 of Rukun Tetangga Act 2012 describes the functions of Rukun Tetangga Area Committee as follows:

to carry out such activities to enhance and strengthen neighbourliness, unity, goodwill, harmony, comfort, peace, cooperation, safety, welfare, health, economic well-being and quality of life among the members of community;

• to receive information on, to observe and to enquire, all issues pertaining to community conflict in the Area and to report such information, observation and enquiry to the Director;

• to take such steps as may be necessary or desirable to enable the residents to protect themselves against any criminal activities or disasters;

• to provide community mediation for the purpose of conciliation or otherwise settle any dispute or difference among the members of community; and

• to carry out any other functions or duties as directed by the Director General from time to time.

Dora (2011) in his study found that the level of knowledge, perceptions and acceptance of the various programs and activities of the Neighbourhoods Watch are generally high. This is an indication that Neighbourhood Watch in many situations has been quite successful in promoting and fostering national unity and contributing to the well-being of the people. The study by Nee (1999) conducted at Kampung Sembulan Lama, Sabah, which examines the population's reaction to the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, received a positive reaction from the population. However there are also some problems faced such as the use of leisure, interest, social relations and information dissemination. The result of the study found that the lack of awareness about the benefits of the Neighbourhood Watch resulted in the activities organized by local Neighbourhood Watch Schemes to be less favourably received by their communities. Further, Mohamad (1979) has found several problems including the involvement of residents in the activities carried out by Neighbourhood Watch. This is due the population still has the inherent nature of carrying out responsibilities. In addition, some Neighbourhood Watch committees were found to be not effective. Another study by Haron (2015) found that Neighbourhood Watch plays important role in reducing crime within the community.

Neighbourhood Watch Activities

Based on information received during fieldwork, several community activities have been identified that are relevant to the present study. Among the activities can be explained as follows:

Activities organized by Neighbourhood Watch to curb crime

Several questions were given to respondents. Most of them said that crime is best deterred by patrols. The First Respondent stated that Voluntary Patrol Scheme (VPS) is the main activity conducted by Neighbourhood Watch to curb crime in Taman Serai Permai. He said that the patrol starts at 11.30 pm and ends at 2.30 am. They walk in groups and patrol the area for several days. The Second Respondent said that Voluntary Patrol Scheme (VPS) in Taman Serai Maju starts at midnight and lasts until 2 am. The patrol is divided according to residential blocks as determined by the local Neighbourhood Watch Committee. They patrol three times in a week. The Third Respondent was of the view that there were not many activities organised by the local Neighbourhood Watch to curb crime in Taman Serai Permata. He added that patrols were conducted when cases of break-ins happened in his neighbourhood.

It is observed that VPS do exist in the selected housing estates. They are quite useful to deter crime. However, each of them differs at the level of Neighbourhood Watch activity and the participation of the residents themselves in the VPS.

Resident's Participation in Neighbourhood Watch

Questionnaires were distributed to the residents in the selected areas to determine their participation in Neighbourhood Watch activities. It is found that they gave different answers.

The First Respondent commented that the levels of participation among elderly residents are very high. However, less participation comes from the youth. The Second Respondent said that the same attitude happened in Taman Serai Maju. According to him, only a handful of youths participated, if the local Neighbourhood Watch organised their activities. During the holidays the participation of residents in their Neighbourhood Watch activities decreased as compared to their activities on working days. In Taman Serai Permata, the participation in housing estate's Neighbourhood Watch is not that much since it has been recently opened. It is observed that the majority of the residents that are actively involved with Neighbourhood Watch activities are those who are within the age of 40-50 years old.

Cooperation among Neighbourhood Watch

The Respondents were asked on the cooperation among Neighbourhood Watch Committees in Bagan Serai.

The First Respondent said that it is quite difficult to have cooperation with other Neighbourhood Watch Committees since their neighbourhood (Taman Serai Permai) is quite far from other housing estates. Nevertheless, they have joined hands with other groups like the local mosque committee in organising clean-up events. The second and third respondents gave different answers. They stated that there was cooperation among Neighbourhood Watch Committees. For example, at the end of 2016 two Neighbourhood Watch Committees conducted joint patrols to combat break in that occurred frequently in their respective housing estates.

Success of Neighbourhood Watch in curbing crimes

The final question of the questionnaire requires the respondents to give their personal opinion on the efficacy of Neighbourhood Watch in addressing crimes in Bagan Serai.

The First Respondent was of the view that his local Neighbourhood Watch has been effective. He admitted that VPS is useful in deterring crimes. The local Neighbourhood Watch is also quite active in organising activities. The Second Respondent stated that Neighbourhood Watch has greatly helped to reduce the crime rate in Bagan Serai. This however depends on certain days and the presence of residents in their neighbourhood. The Third Respondent had the same view with the first and second respondents. He thought that Neighbourhood Watch does play a role in handling crime rate in Bagan Serai. To conclude, all respondents agreed that Neighbourhood Watch has been a success to curb crimes in Bagan Serai.

Based on the above discussion, it is observed that Neighbourhood Watch in Bagan Serai played an important role in curbing crimes. This can be gathered from the replies given by the respondents in which all of them said that Neighbourhood Watch is successful in preventing crimes. Furthermore, the respondents in the three selected areas: Taman Serai Maju, Taman Serai Permai and Taman Serai Permata agreed that Neighbourhood Watch has been effective in curbing crimes.