GILGIT, Oct 21: The Northern Areas Police have decided to introduce community policing to check crimes and spread of narcotics in various parts of the region, sources said.

As a prelude to the scheme, 40 persons had been recruited in the community police in Ghizer to coordinate with local police stations in combating crimes. They said the community police officer had been allowed to possess weapons and would assist police. They said the community officers would soon be administered oath at central police office Gilgit.

They said the growing rate of crimes in far off areas of the region had created a lot of difficulties for police but now they would have the support of community police.

Some people, however, expressed apprehensions, saying that the new system would never yield results if given in the hands of influential people without observing any criterion.