Is the government serious in wanting more buildings be fixed with Closed Circuit Camera TVs (CCTVs)? They do work. But are they effective? They can only be effective if they are not used sparingly.

I am referring to cases where such CCTVs were installed in police lock-ups but those who had been detained were found to be bruised and even raped or killed. The CCTVs did not record this.

The reason being that they had either been tampered with or were switched off by the staff in order to conceal a crime that they knew they were going to commit and did not wish to have it recorded on tape.

Why can't the police clean up their own backyard first and ensure that the CCTVs - installed at the ‘rakyat's’ expense - are not faulty or rendered useless at crucial times?

Police officers should ensure that if they are to interrogate anyone for anything, their CCTVs must first be working and that the whole 'friendly session' in the lock-up is recorded.

The police, it seems, only want the courts and public to believe in unrecorded confessions or oral confessions that are often made under duress.

I have an important and intelligent suggestion to make for the police with regards to the placement of CCTVs at strategic locations be they in police stations or public places. And I am doing this to protect the general public and other innocent bystanders especially those who are careless with their personal safety.

Please, for heaven's sake, do not employ those officers who are not well-educated to man the CCTV control station. Get people who are qualified and give them the right pay.

Secondly, install a secondary alarm system which can be switched on by the CCTV officers when they see a crime about to happen. This so the culprits will be scared stiff knowing that he or they are being watched.

Install a public address system too so that the CCTV staff can give instructions to those who are seen to be walking in dangerous spots. The staff can also warn anyone who is seen loitering in any area and who look like they are looking for a prey to pounce upon.

He or she can also make announcements through the PA by saying: 'Pergerakan anda dirakam' (Your movements are being recorded). This is to scare those who are thinking of committing a crime - however petty like dropping litter on the ground - to think twice.

The officer can also remind single women to be extra careful and ‘virtually escort' them to their cars in quiet basement car parks for their personal safety.

And better still, install something new that the world has not done before - a spray system that the officer can switch on to spray dyed or chemically-laced water at a place where a crime is about to happen. This is after the culprit has been told to desist but insist on going ahead.