TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部) mandated an increase in police visibility in September to curb rising pedestrian fatalities, sparking mixed reactions among law enforcement and experts.
Officer Lin Shih-chieh (林仕傑) from Haishan Precinct (海山派出所) in New Taipei City noted that while police presence at intersections aids traffic management, it doesn’t address the underlying issues. Lin emphasized the need for improved traffic engineering and education.
Officer Tsai Cheng-lin (蔡政霖) echoed similar sentiments, stating that while police visibility helps maintain order, limited resources should prioritize crime prevention. Grassroots officers have voiced concerns about the increased workload, noting that in addition to patrolling and handling unexpected cases, they must complete paperwork back at the station.
Historical data supports their perspective. The 1972 Kansas City preventive patrol experiment indicated that police density neither affected crime rates nor public fear and could even contribute to negative perceptions of certain areas.
Haishan Precinct Chief Ko Shun-hsiung (柯順雄) added that while police visibility has minimal impact on the general public, swift case resolution is more critical for victims. Central Police University (警察大學) Professor Hsu Fu-sheng (許福生) acknowledged the "phantom effect" of police visibility but stressed the importance of combining traffic engineering with law enforcement.
The National Police Agency (警政署) reported that government-funded tech enforcement installations at 265 locations have reduced accidents and violations from January to June 2024.
Experts underscore that enhancing police visibility should rebuild police-community relations, emphasizing that comprehensive strategies are necessary to improve traffic safety and prevent further tensions.