Hanoi (VNA) - It was ataround 7am that Pham Xuan Thuy was riding a bicycle around Khuong Mai ward in Hanoi’sThanh Xuan district. The 64-year-old man was not on a bike tour but on duty toprotect social order and security in the area.

He is a member of the residential security guard forces of ThanhXuan district tasked with stopping or reporting a range of violations - fromlittering to drug use and smuggling. They are entrusted with keeping closewatch over every corner of the district. He and his fellow guards have become afamiliar sight in the district.

Each group usually consists of six guardians and one policeman andis in charge of protecting social order and security in one ward in thedistrict, focusing on high-risk areas or areas with high rates of crimes, drugusers and smugglers.

They patrol on shifts, in the morning, afternoon, evening or evenat night, depending on the situation in each ward.

“Apart from discovering violators, we also disseminate informationto raise public awareness of regulations and laws,” Thuy said.

The bike patrol model was officially piloted by the district’sauthorities one year ago. The authorities provided 66 bicycles for residentialsecurity guards in 11 wards in the district.  

Most of the guards are retirees, and the patrols encourage them toget out and be active and useful. Vu Minh Phuong, head of the district’spolice, said the initiative is considered the most appropriate model for them.

Patrolling on foot would affect their health and make it hard forthem to catch violators. it would also limit the area of their patrols. Sincepatrolling on motorbikes or cars it create noise and dust, particularly atnight, bicycles were deemed the optimal solution.   

“It is more convenient to go on patrol by bike because it does notcause noise, making it easier to keep watch over suspects and gain access tosmall alleys and streets,” he said.

Over the past year, hundreds of violations of social order andsecurity were recorded by the guardians, including encroachment on pavementsand robberies.

The model has also received a warm welcome from local residentswho are now willing to co-operate with local police and residential securityguards in keeping social order and security.

Nguyen Thu Hoai, a resident of Thanh Xuan Bac district, saidresidential security guards on bicycles create a friendly image. “We now feelmore secure thanks to their patrol activities,” she said.

“Many people are now willing to co-operate with the security guardforces in keeping social order and security in the area, such as the preventionof littering on the streets or pavements and illegal parking,” she added.

Deputy Head of Thanh Xuan district’s Police Nguyen Quoc Dung saidthe patrols yield practical results in preventing and fighting against socialevils and crimes. 

Together with this model, the installation of security camerasystems starting last April helped discover nearly 500 violations, includingdrug use and smuggling, traffic law violations and environmental protectionviolations.

Crimes and social evils in hot spots dropped significantly as aresult, he said.

The district will mobilise all local residents for the mission ofprotecting social order and security this year, focusing on increasing thenumber of residential security guardians and investing in essential equipmentand facilities to help improve their operational efficiency, according to theChairman of the district’s People’s Committee, Nguyen Xuan Luu.

Information dissemination would also be strengthened to raisepublic awareness of abiding by regulations and laws, he said.-VNA