The number of breakouts and riots by persons under detention or in lockups is making a mockery of our police. Just look at the series of 'great escapes'. The most recent was the flight of the airport coach heist mastermind and his partner from the Selangor police headquarters lock-up yesterday. Two days earlier, 11 drug addicts broke loose from the Kota Tinggi police station in Johor.

Other getaways have included the breakouts by illegal Indonesian immigrants from detention centres, and the almost incomprehensible (some even find it hilarious though not for the detainees) escape by Africans who simply hopped and jumped off the stalled police truck that was taking them to a lock-up.

We get reports of people on remand making quick escapes so often now that detainees in Malaysia probably are plotting their escapes at the first opportunity. After every escape, the only action taken by the authorities is to suspend the lowly 'negligent' officers on duty. Why has there been no call for the inspector-general of police or more senior officers to be accountable for their 'Matahari' charges?

Perhaps it is the system or facilities that need revamping to thwart future escapes. Otherwise, the security system in Malaysia may mirror a Monopoly game where prisoners can simply "get out of jail, pass, go and collect 200." It's really farcical.

Maybe we should also look into the standard and practices of the Malaysian police force. While neighbouring Singapore are equipping their law enforcement with mobile technology, some of our policemen are still struggling with 20-year-old Olivetti typewriters and carbon copies for their reports.

Aside from investment in new technology, I think our government should also look into retraining the police force on how to use the newfangled defence technology efficiently. We should inculcate a higher sense of pride, integrity and social justice among our police personnel.

Perhaps, as a first step we should make those in the force proud of their police career by upgrading their pay scale and training requirements.

I think we have taken for granted for too long the nation's peace and security. However, recent world developments are warning us that we cannot afford to be complacent anymore.

We need to place an effective check-and-balance system in our police force before it is too late.