The increase in the number of Neighborhood Observers, which currently amounts to 78.850, in 166 municipalities and communities of free Cyprus, contributed to the significant reduction of crime on a pan-Cypriot basis and to an increase in the public's sense of security, according to research results for the institution of the "Neighborhood Observer", presented today by the company CMRC Cypronetwork Marketing Research Ltd, which was also conducted by the Crime Prevention Office of the Police Headquarters.
According to data presented by the Head of the Crime Prevention Office, Petros Pattouras, in 2011, when the institution of the Neighborhood Observer began to be applied, the cases of serious crime amounted to 8426 in Cyprus, in 2012 to 7973, in 2013 to 7089, in 2014 at 6775, in 2015 at 5912 and in 2016 at 5094. Moreover, minor offense cases in Cyprus amounted to 2011 in 7266, 6515 in 2012, 5282 in 2013, 4978 in 2014, 4089 in 2015 and 3820 in 2016.
Moreover, in his speech, the Chief of Police Zacharias Chrysostomou, stated that according to the results of the research, 89% of the respondents feel quite, very, very safe today in the area where they live.
The percentage of those who feel little or not at all amounts to 9%, compared to a percentage of 13%, which resulted in 2015 and 20% in 2011.
Also, according to Mr. Chrysostomou, there is an increase in the sense of trust, meritocracy and the relations of the Police with the public, parameters that are very high in the priorities set by the leadership of the body, as he said.
"Today we count 75.850 Observers in 166 Municipalities and Communities of free Cyprus, compared to just 13.000 Observers in 54 Municipalities and Communities in 2013, holding, in proportion to population, one of the top positions in the world. This increase in the number of Neighborhood Observers has certainly contributed to a significant reduction in crime, on a nationwide basis. "Comparative results of the years 2013 and 2016 show a significant reduction in serious crime, while there was a reduction in minor offenses," said Mr. Chrysostomou.
The Chief of Police stated that, as it seems, the Police, together with the National Guard, collect the most positive assessments from the public, compared to other public sector services, but also in relation to the statistics of previous years.
As he said, in 2011, the Police had an average of 3,1 on a five-point scale, in terms of the general picture of the public services of the place and was ranked second together with the state health services, and in 2016 this average rating increases to 3,4.
An increase, he said, is also present in the degree of improvement of the Police in general. In 2016, the average of responses reached 3,3 and has improved compared to 2011, where the average was set at 3,0.
According to the Chief of Police, there is an increase in the degree of public satisfaction with the Police, as 3,1 in 2011 rose to 3,3 in 2016. “The sense of trust that inspires the Police, but also the relationships that have "These are parameters that show an increasing trend, always compared to statistics of 2011. And I focus on the year 2011, as the economic crisis did not, during this period, hit our island," said Mr. Chrysostomou.
The Neighborhood Observer Program started operating in 2011 in the Municipality of Idali. This year, their number rose to 1000. In 2012 they reached 4000, in 2013 13000, in 2014 44500 thousand, in 2015 62000 and in 2016 72500.
Mr. Chrysostomou stated that explicit instructions have been given for the establishment of local and provincial committees, with the involvement of the Assistant Chief of Operations, the Assistant Police Chiefs of Operations of the Provinces, the Chiefs of Police Stations and the Neighborhood Police, thus giving a new status in the Neighborhood Observer Program.
In his speech during the presentation, the Minister of Justice and Public Order Ionas Nikolaou stated that the gradual increase of the Neighborhood Observers and the response of more and more municipalities and communities to participate in the informative lectures organized by the Crime Prevention Office for Crime. institution and its action, demonstrate the correctness of the government decision to strengthen the active action of the citizen in the community policing.
He also stressed that the Government is systematically working to develop measures and practices that have been successfully tested, such as the institution of Community Policing, so that they offer an even higher level of security in our country and that "our goal is to create those conditions that will upgrade the role of the Community Police and will further strengthen the relations of the Police with all the local authorities, the organized bodies, the local community, each neighborhood, with the citizen of all ages ”.
He said that in order to enhance the effectiveness of the Neighborhood Observer institution, as well as community policing in general, we should, among other things, "aim to expand actions for greater involvement of young people in the institution, thus strengthening the sense of security in the members of each municipality and community as well as the participation of young people in a form of volunteering and their involvement in activities that strengthen their relations, since young people will be called to work together for other young people, for a safer future ”.
Also, as he stated, “we should extend the action and the intervening role of the institution of Community Policing, with the establishment and operation of local Crime Prevention Councils, in order to develop a multidimensional action in the standards of other developed countries, which will it includes both the prevention and solution of juvenile delinquency problems and the commitment of continuous and evolving participation of each Municipality / Community ”.
Source: SigmaLive