CPF’s crime awareness event opened eyes to danger
A fake hijacking scene drew quite the crowd, especially when they fired blank gunshots!
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ON Saturday, May 27, the Brackendowns Community Police Forum (CPF) and Bracken SAPS hosted a crime awareness event at the shopping centre in JP Strijdom Street, Mayberry Park.
The purpose of this event was to create awareness about CPF and police in general. “It is common for community members to mistake CPF for a security company, but that is definitely not the case. CPF is made up of willing community members who offer their time, money, fuel and sometimes their safety to help protect the community and respond to emergencies. They are not a security company, but they do collaborate with the SAPS and stay in contact with them,” explained Bracken reservist Chris Groen.
“People need to give CPF more credit, I think,” said Ju-Anne Coetzee, a CPF member. “CPF members assist and do their best to combat crime any time of the day or night. All CPF members are volunteers.”
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The event of May 27 was very exciting. Brackendowns CPF even demonstrated a fake hijacking scene which drew quite a crowd, especially when they fired gunshots – all blanks of course!
There was a stall with various police paraphernalia on display, including guns, bullets, bombs, pepper spray, bullet-proof vests and batons. Captain Trevor Bohler was so kind as to elaborate on all these items which was of great interest to those keen to learn something new. Children were amazed to see police horses strolling around the scene.
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For those who were less interested in security-related topics, there were pancake and hamburger stalls, second-hand book and clothing stalls and a few others selling a variety of items.
It was a fun, informative morning for all who attended. If you support Brackendowns CPF, have any questions or would like to volunteer for them, call Geoff on 083 411 1144 or Leon on 072 087 8198 or visit their website, www.brackendownscpf.co.za.
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