New wheels for policing forums
Vehicles to help strengthen partnership between public and law enforcement
The vehicles Mene handed over, eight brand new VW Caddies, came from the R6.7m budget specifically allocated to the Eastern Cape provincial CPF last year
In a bid to join hands and strengthen their fight against crime, the SA Police Service yesterday handed over eight new vehicles to the heads of the various community policing forums in the province.
With Nelson Mandela Bay emerging as a top contributor to the Eastern Cape’s rampant crime numbers, police top brass believed it was fitting for the stakeholder engagement to be hosted in the metro.
Besides discussing the successes and challenges of the community policing forum (CPF) structures across the province, police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene also handed over the vehicles to the forum heads of each policing district in the province, and touched on the procurement of further equipment to assist CPFs.
The CPF engagement, held at the Gelvandale Community Hall, stemmed from a directive issued by the police’s national head office that provincial structures engage with community policing to highlight the importance of community collaborations, and to establish what challenges they face.
“It is crucial for us as police management to engage with our CPFs, because interactions like these are the best way to strengthen our partnerships with our communities who serve as the eyes and ears on the ground,” Mene said.
“These CPF structures form a buffer between us and the public, and are the best way for back-and-forth collaboration between law enforcement and the community.”
The day’s programme included breakaway sessions where community organisations and police officials had an opportunity to discuss challenges, and how best to address them.
Mene said the biggest benefit of CPFs to the police was having people from the community who could engage in public awareness campaigns on topics and in locations where they knew it was needed most.
“These are the people who provide us with the best insights into the communities we serve, and without them it is difficult to know where the biggest needs are.
“In the same breath, anyone who wishes to make the biggest contribution to their local police can do so by becoming involved in their CPF,” Mene said.
The vehicles Mene handed over, eight brand new VW Caddies, came from the R6.7m budget specifically allocated to the Eastern Cape provincial CPF last year.
In addition, Mene said they were also in the process of procuring T-shirts, reflector jackets and other apparel to be sent to each district in due course.
In his opening remarks to welcome all delegates to the event, Bay district commissioner Major-General Vuyisile Ncata said it was fitting that his district hosted these discussions.
“Nelson Mandela Bay is the biggest contributor to crime stats in the province, and it is relevant that we host these discussions here and encourage more community engagement in an effort to address our crime rate.”
His remarks were supported by head of social crime prevention, Major-General Thokozani Mathonsi, who urged CPFs to scrutinise the crime statistics in their regions and to identify the specific needs of each police precinct.
“By studying the stats, we are able to identify ways for our CPF members to become involved in effective crime prevention.
“Not all crimes can be addressed through awareness campaigns, and it is important to craft tangible plans that will better focus efforts towards real solutions.
“Without a plan we just establish structures for the sake of running structures.”
Mathonsi mentioned drugs, alcohol, gangs and vigilantism as ongoing concerns plaguing the Eastern Cape, and specifically Nelson Mandela Bay, and urged CPFs to find new and impactful ways of addressing these issues.