More feet on ground leads to more eyes on criminals
Forum appeals to public not to resort to vigilantism
Last month’s report asked that members of the public join the CPF. Why, you may ask. Because the more feet we have on the ground the bigger the area is that we can control and cover: discovering people out of place, illegal drug trafficking, broken infrastructure and so on.
The quicker a problem is discovered, the sooner the responsible authorities can correct it. The patrollers keep an eye on all the substations and other essential infrastructure, and our work decreases the chance of it getting vandalised.
Shortly after our CPF report was published last month, a report was published about a group of “concerned citizens” and the work that they do. Citizens must be very wary of groups whose methods could be classified as vigilantism.
No regular citizen may confiscate any item from another without the authority to do so. That is classified as theft. The CPF and SAPS would be pleased if citizens would report such incidents.
Report it!
This month’s appeal to the public is to please report any kind of illegal or indecent activity.
It has come to the attention of our executive that people are not reporting problems to the police.
The reasons that they give are misplaced.
If you have reported an incident and are not satisfied with the response to your report, please contact us at the CPF.
We will treat your concern confidentially: we are not allowed to pass on any information given in confidence.
We can address your complaint or concern with the appropriate authorities, without telling them who laid the complaint.
It is better to report an incident to the police or the CPF as soon as possible, rather than continue being a victim. If you are being intimidated, harrassed or held to ransom, we can help you.
In Port Alfred, crime moves from area to area as the SAPS, the security companies and CPF patrols are more visible. Being seen and making arrests (87 during December) is an important deterrent.
If you, as a member of the public, report incidents, the combined security community (SAPS, CPF, security companies) will be made aware of them and can do something about them.
In that way you will help keep Port Alfred law- abiding and so build confidence in the town as a safe place to live and have a holiday.
Rather donate to an NGO
We appeal to the public not to give so-called car guards money or anything at all. Ignore them.
In conjunction with the municipality, we are working on a proper approach to this issue.
We have ideal weather conditions for transient people to camp out: they arrive, are sympathetically received by wellmeaning citizens, and stay.
However, some of the people who spend their days and nights on the street may resort to criminal activities if they don’t receive money.
You are not helping either them or our town by supporting them. Rather donate to a soup kitchen or other NGO, and refer them to it.
Don’t break the law yourself
When you report a crime, you will be required to sign a perjury statement. The crime must have actually happened, and not have been fabricated for insurance purposes.
Apart from the fraud charge that is likely to follow, you will likely be charged with perjury.
Perjury is when you lay criminal charges (in other words open a police case) saying that a crime was committed, when it’s not true.
We appeal to the public not to request or circulate photos of suspects or alleged wrongdoers on WhatsApp groups. You are breaking the law and could find yourself facing a charge of defamation of character, or false incrimination.
SAPS Port Alfred has new community centre numbers: 046-604-4700; 046-604-4703 and 046-604-4704.
For more information about the CPF, or if you would like to join it, please call Justin Simpson 074-1172809; Jane le Roux 083-327-3016; Mike Hoskin 072-441-7896 or Alec McKerrow 082- 878-3203.