Zhenghua's crime-busting act
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Dec 19, 2010 - Sunday Times
RESIDENTS and grassroots leaders from Zhenghua in Bukit Panjang town took a bold stroke on Sunday to stamp out gangs and loanshark activities in their estate.
They launched an anti-gang and anti-loanshark campaign to raise awareness among residents about these crimes and the hotlines they can call for help.
Over 200 banners, with the police and anti-loanshark hotlines printed on them, will be hung up at 105 community clubs and other locations islandwide from today.
The estate was the scene of a gang-related slashing last month. Seven youths were injured in two separate attacks by a group of youths armed with parangs and choppers. Since then, more residents have joined volunteer patrol groups to keep the area safe.
The Zhenghua ward alone has 115 volunteers in its Citizens-on-Patrol (COP) programme. Before the incident, it had about 60 volunteers.
The COP teams have also increased the number of patrols from once a month to about three times a week.
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public vigilantes.
