Despite efforts by the police force to maintain a high standard among its officers, there are some who are yet to understand the meaning of “integrity”, Penang police chief Ayub Yaacob said today.

NONE Ayub (left) said disciplinary problems among members of the police force could not be taken lightly.

And he vowed he would not tolerate their actions as “it takes one black sheep to tarnish the entire reputation” of the force.

“We are proud of the achievements of our officers who realise the purpose of their jobs, but there is a small group that is yet to understand the meaning of integrity,” he said, at a police event in Penang.

“This is the very same logo that is pinned on our uniforms but to them it is merely a decorative item,” he added.

Ayub urged the force’s religious and counselling departments to play a bigger role to ensure that good values are instilled in each and every member of the force.

He also wants to ensure the accountability of supervisors, so that each wrong doing, no matter how minor, is attended to before it becomes more serious and viral.

Better showing in crime index

Ayub’s statement comes in the wake of several cases of alleged police abuse during peaceful assemblies and deaths in custody cases in the country.

But while the force’s reputation suffers in these areas, Penang police have done better in fighting crime, according to the results of a criminal index research.

According to the study, the crime rate in Penang has been reduced to 9,706 cases or by 20.2 percent last year, compared with the number in 2010, which recorded 12,161.

Property-related crimes went down to 8,295 cases (by 20.4 percent) in 2011, from 10,415 cases in 2010. Cases of violence had also reduced by 332 cases to 1,414 cases (by 19 percent), from 1,746 in 2010.

For 2011, a total of 1,065 road crimes were reported, compared with 2,597 cases in 2010.

Ayub also lamented that some quarters in the force were not working according to the “guiding principles” of the force, which include the 4Ps - being “a protector, proactive, people-orientated and to perform with high standards”.

He said he continued to receive feedback from the community that the force was yet to internalise these principles, and that some of their actions contradicted the concept of 4Ps.

“There are complaints that police action is inconsistent with the guiding principles. This must be corrected by every member of the force... or else, slogans will remain just that, and meaningless,” he added.