DCP Datuk Noor Azam Jamaludin, deputy director of the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department at Bukit Aman, today took over as the Negeri Sembilan chief police officer.

Noor Azam, 57, succeeded Datuk Jaafar Mohd Yusof, 60, who went on mandatory retirement.

The handing over of duties at the Negeri Sembilan Police headquarters here was witnessed by CP Datuk Abd Manan Mhd Hassan, director of the Strategic Resources and Technology Department at Bukit Aman.

Speaking to reporters, Noor Azam, who hails from Alor Setar, said he would continue the efforts of his predecessor to reduce the crime rate in the state.

"I will introduce several programmes, such as forging closer relationship with the community and focusing on factories, in this endeavour. We will introduce the neighbourhood watch for factories which will be divided into zones," he said.

He also said that he would focus on combating crime in the hot spots in the districts.

-- BERNAMA