Kota Kinabalu: Kota Kinabalu police have added a woman motorcycle patrol unit to its stable of enforcement units.
“Comprising female police officers, it will boost police presence in communities where there is public concentration, especially women,” Kota Kinabalu Police Chief ACP Kasim Muda said at the launch in Gaya Street, Sunday.
The Amanita motorcycle patrol would cover areas from Imago Shopping Mall to Jesselton Mall as well as Gaya Street and Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens near Anjung Kinabalu.
It would initially consist of three female officers operating primarily on weekends and public holidays from 7am to 7pm.
Kasim said they hope to expand the unit’s size and scope.
“We need female officers with motorcycle licences and perhaps we can add the number to six soon.
“We will also look at including patrols in residential areas that have been identified as hotspots, depending on available female officer manpower,” Kasim added.
He hoped it would help women feel more comfortable communicating and sharing information with law enforcement.
“We want to get closer to women who may feel more at ease communicating or sharing information to our female officers.
That is our main goal with this motorcycle patrol.
“I have also instructed our traffic officers and Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) units to look into traffic offences, as we have received many complaints from the public about cars blocking traffic and parking in non-designated spaces.
“We will take action by issuing summonses and compounds,” he said.
Kasim reported no incidents of snatch thefts or robberies so far this month, although there was one case last month after midnight involving a Korean victim.
On the #KamiMahuAir peaceful assembly held by UMS students and non-governmental organisations in front of the Menara Kinabalu, Kasim said they are preparing the investigation papers.
Nine people comprising a teacher and eight students from an Alternative School (for stateless kids) were detained.
