Lalmatia has become a better place to live for its 40,000 residents thanks to the introduction of community police in the area.

Deployed by the Lalmatia Cooperative Housing Society, the community police is maintaining security and also ensuring cleanliness of the area.

"The idea evolved as we wanted to improve the law and order situation of our community," said Mostafizur Rahman, president of the housing society adding that the entire community police system was established by the society along with the help of local ward commissioner Atiqul Islam Matin.

And since April 2004, when the community police swung into action, inhabitants of the area have really felt a welcome change in overall security, safety and sanctity.

Now no outsider can get into Lalmatia without convincing the guards at some 23 gates and guardrooms erected at entry points to the area.

"We spent around Tk 60,000 to set

up each gate," said Mostafizur Rahman.

There are 70 security guards, each equipped with a baton and a whistle. They are responsible for checking at the gates and also roam the entire locality in shifts. The community policemen have been given khaki uniform and green beret.

After starting their work, the community police have demolished makeshift shops that had mushroomed up everywhere in Lalmatia. The guards have also discouraged locals from scattering waste everywhere. They have issued a ban on sticking and pasting posters, leaflets, hanging of banners etc.

Nazma Huda who has been living in Lalmatia for a long time said that makeshift tea stalls were the hangouts for hoodlums and drug users in the past.

"They used to mug pedestrians and rickshaw passengers often. The incidents of mugging and snatching have reduced significantly since the arrival of the community police," she said.

"On an average there were atleast two reports of mugging here everyday before the introduction of the commu-

nity police," said Mostafizur Rahman. Ward commissioner Matin also agreed that the law situation has improved and informed that the community police apprehended two muggers only the week before.

Even a few months ago, hawkers moved freely on the streets of Lalmatia. "Some of them might have been criminals in guise of hawkers. But now that fear has greatly subsided as the genuine hawkers have been given identity cards," said Saber Ahmed, a local resident.

At least 200 hawkers have been enlisted and given identity cards, informed the president of the housing society. He also said that residents have been instructed to interact with only those hawkers who are holding ID cards.

Special stickers have been issued for cars belonging to residents of the area for identification. For visiting vehicles and those without stickers, the driver has to write down his name, address and number of the car at the gate.

"This way, it has become easier for the guards to identify the vehicles. Those of us who live in Lalmatia can enter without being checked. Minus

the stickers there could have been unnecessary harassment," said a youngman named Mithu.

Lalmatia was always known as a notorious place for noise pollution. "It has not disappeared totally but we have managed to reduce the level to a certain extent with the launching of community policing," said Matin.

"The number of cars as well as rickshaws entering the area freely have came down. It has given the residents a little respite from noise. Even the bells of rickshaws plying on the streets was annoying," he added.

The driving force behind this pleasant change, the Lalmatia Cooperative Housing Society Ltd. was established in 1953 to look after the well being of the community. Initially the organisation had been functioning properly but then came a prolonged spell of inactivity. However, the new committee that was elected in May 2003 has shown renewed enthusiasm in improving the living quality of the residents.

"Within a very short period of time, the success of community police in Lalmatia has became a role model for others. At present the law and order situation here is much better com-

pared to other parts of the city," said Shamsul Huda, a local resident.

Like him most of the residents are satisfied with the service and are happy to pay Tk 100 per month as maintenance fee for the community police system. "The money is worth it as it insures our security," Huda said.

Mostafizur Rahman acknowledged the support from the community as well as the local police administration. "We had received help from the

Deputy Commis- sioner

(West) also. He arranged a temporary police camp near the society's office. Also five policemen were employed to patrol the area with our guards."

Lalmatia-style neighbourhoodwatch system has set an example for nearby communities. Recently residents of Picsiculture Housing Society have planned to set up their own community police. Commissioner Matin said he was thinking of introducing the system in Iqbal road, another area of his constituency, too.