Wednesday 1 August 2012

IGP: Perception of crime rate should not be based on social media reports

KUALA LUMPUR (July 31, 2012): People must not base their perception of crime based on data released via social media sites. Instead they should obtain such information or data from reliable and certified sources.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar said crime data reported in the social media was found to be data compiled from old crime statistics.

"Such data released in the social media pictures the country as a lawless nation although such data is actually old statistics.

"Before accepting such data as authentic, people must first check with the relevant authorities, especially the police, to ensure such information or data is true," he told reporters after a breaking-of-fast ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters here today.

"Why must we release data that can picture Malaysia as a country that is not safe. I hope such irresponsible reports will not be released in social media channels," he said.

Data released by police on the crime index had come under scrutiny by several quarters, who claimed the numbers were doctored and based that assumption on the number of crimes highlighted daily in the media and social networks.

Ismail Omar said as an effort to enhance crime prevention initiatives, 300 police officers from Bukit Aman have been deployed for patrolling duty at hot spots identified by the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur police.

Police had recently announced that the national crime index had dropped by 11 per cent over the past two years and fresh initiatives were in the pipeline to combat crime. – Bernama

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