Geylang NPC chief: We are in control

SINGAPORE - Our question was blunt: Have the police lost Geylang to the criminals?

Superintendent (Supt) Loh Kah Wai, the commanding officer of Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC), was firm in his answer.

Convinced that his officers still have the upper hand in the red-light district, he told The New Paper yesterday: "We have never lost Geylang... Crime statistics will show we are in control."

The statistics indicate that reported crimes in Geylang like robbery, murder, rape, snatch theft and housebreaking showed a decline in the five years from 213 in 2008 to 135 last year.

But public order crimes like rioting, affray and serious hurt rose slightly from 43 in 2008 to 49 last year.

Geylang came into the spotlight after Commissioner of Police Ng Joo Hee told the Committee of Inquiry (COI) hearings into the Little India riot last week that there was more "lawlessness" in Geylang than in Little India.

Marine Parade GRC Member of Parliament Fatimah Lateef, who is in charge of Geylang, also expressed frustration over the lack of a concrete action plan to clean up the area.

The New Paper understands that Geylang NPC has about 160 officers compared to an average of 100 for most NPCs.

But Supt Loh, 37, agreed that more can be done to combat criminal activities in the district.

He said: "We need more (resources) in order to get more results. My job is to bring crime figures down.

"I will try to catch all (criminals) if I can. Seriously, bit by bit, it all adds up (in reducing crime)."

He explained there had always been plans before the Little India riot to further reduce crime in Geylang.

Among the initiatives is the installation of 200 surveillance cameras in the next two years to better monitor crime and illegal activities.

Here are excerpts of TNP's exclusive interview with Supt Loh:

'It's a game of cat-and-mouse'

TNP: What issues do the police face in maintaining law and order in Geylang?

Superintendent Loh Kah Wai: Geylang is a challenging terrain. You have shophouses, alleyways, backlanes and condominiums. Sometimes there's poor lighting in some areas and this makes it difficult to manoeuvre, especially at night.

There's also the assortment of activities in the lorongs, from the legal to the illicit, and it's not easy to distinguish between the people who visit Geylang.

Over the years, the criminal elements have become innovative in evading arrest. For example, deploying of lookouts to monitor police operations.

It's a cat-and-mouse game. It's an ongoing war and we will continue to monitor them closely.

What are some of the challenges you face?

We face the constant evolution of the modus operandi (MO) of criminals. We are aware of how criminals' MO has changed, such as the moving of gambling dens from backlanes to shophouses, prostitutes moving from main roads to the backlanes, and the disguises and methods criminals employ to sell drugs and contraband cigarettes.

We have adapted our tactics accordingly to tackle their new MOs.

How do you coordinate your operations with multiple agencies?

Every enforcement agency has a stake on certain issues in Geylang. We will work together, conduct regular operations.

They have their own sense of what goes on in Geylang, they come to the table (for regular meetings) not only listening to the commanding officer of Geylang NPC but to share information and discuss when is the best time to hit (the criminal elements).

Who owns Geylang?

The police own Geylang...(laughter all around). You mean "own" in the underworld terms?

There are people who want to make some money out of their (illegal) activities in Geylang. And everybody carries out the activities.

It's all driven by money. It's all about interest.

If they (criminals) can co-exist with the same interest, why get into unnecessary problems and get the law's attention?

What's your main priority?

I will try to catch all (criminals) if I can. Seriously, bit by bit, it all adds up (in reducing crime).

Is it possible to get rid of all criminal elements in Geylang?

I think no police force in the whole world, regardless of how many officers they have deployed in the locale, will say there's no crime. I think no commanding officer in any NPC will dare to say that there will come a day that henceforth there will be no crime.

What would you like to see in a safer Geylang?

I think bright backlanes and an environment that is very much monitored and would somehow deter crime.

We have the CCTVs on the ground and the boots (manpower) to enforce. We could have a very safe and secure environment for people to pursue their legitimate interests in the area.

zaihan@sph.com.sg

This article was published on April 2 in The New Paper.

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