The Home Ministry said the Wangsa Maju area will soon be labelled as a new crime “hot zone”.

“We cannot deny that there was an increase in crime in 2010. As such we will look to include Wangsa Maju as a new crime hot zone,” said Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusof.

The police will also look to increase the number of police stations in the area, as well as to deploy a mobile police station that will change location every eight hours.

NONE Other measures will include joint patrols with neighbourhood groups and other crime prevention activities.

Abu Seman ( left ) was responding to a question from Wee Choo Keong (Independent-Wangsa Maju) on what would be done to control crime in the area.

In order to ensure that Malaysia fully complies with the Interpol guidelines of one policeman per 250 citizens, the police are currently expanding its ranks, Abu Seman said.

Some 60,000 police officers are being recruited to boost the ratio from 1:270 currently, to the Interpol recommended level.

There are now 105,229 police personnel.