“The community is not fully aware of the functions and duties the Community Police Forum (CPF) performs.”
According to Edenvale CPF chairperson Mrs Linda McKenzie, the CPF is faced with numerous tasks and duties to assist within the community.
“The people are not fully aware of what the patrollers and the CPF are doing. I am very proud to say and let everybody know that the CPF has grown and become extremely powerful,” she said.
Regarding roadblocks, Mrs McKenzie said that most insurance companies will not pay out if you are driving under the influence and become involved in an accident.
“When we have roadblocks as a combined roadblock with the SAPS as well as the EMPD, the CPF is invited to these for a few specific reasons, one being that when individuals are arrested for drinking and driving, you cannot leave your vehicle standing on the side of the road.
“The officers have to remain on site to do what needs to be done. The CPF is then requested by the operations commander to drive the vehicle back to the police station, where it is safe. The person inebriated is then informed about the CPF driving the vehicle to the station.
“In so doing we try to avoid lawsuits afterwards whereby the car has been tampered with or damaged. This allows for the officers to do their duties during the roadblocks,” she said.
Another reason CPF members are invited to roadblocks is to assist in situations where a father or mother is under the influence of alcohol with children in the car. Mrs McKenzie said the CPF then takes control of the children to ensure their safety.
“We contact grandparents or a family member to fetch the children. We make sure we do not take the children to the station and ensure they do not see their parents being put into the back of a police van,” she said.
With regard to crime scenes, if a panic button is pressed, the security forces will arrive first and are in control of the scene until the SAPS arrives and everybody stands down.
“Due to hierarchy, the the SAPS will take control of the scene. In an incident of death, the SAPS can request the CPF to ensure that nobody enters the property. As a result we act on an instruction given to us by the people in charge. We then assist in keeping the family and others calm so that the SAPS forces may continue with their duties,” she said.
“The CPF has qualified trauma counsellors who in situations like these have the ability to assist individuals to deal with a traumatic experience. The visibility of the CPF together with the EMPD, the SAPS and security companies will decrease the possibilities of individuals becoming a victim of crime. Together we will never know how many we have stopped, but we do know that we have and cannot keep a score of these events. We are doing our jobs to ensure the community’s safety. We need the community and its support,” said Mrs McKenzie.
Crime
Edenvale SAPS’ Captain Andries Matome said the CPF as well as the patrollers have been helpful in the operations and assisting where they can.
“During an operation on February 12 we had great results. About 19 were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. The operations will therefore continue within the community,” he said. Capt Matome said that in terms of drug arrests, it was adopted at the previous meeting that a zero tolerance to drug use would be taken. Therefore the SAPS is working hard to eradicate the use and distribution thereof.
He also said the social crime prevention team will be mobilising domestic workers and garden workers on March 17.
“We would like to educate and inform them about robbers and break-ins so that they may be alert and know what to do in such cases,” said Capt Matome.
Colonel Ben Baloyi said reported cases for the month were 260, people found guilty to date were six, 106 arrests had been made, and 107 cases had been sent to court for mediation.
Edenvale SAPS Station Commander Colonel Eddie Trollip said crime statistics for January were high.
These were especially contact crimes, which include robberies and assaults.
The property crimes, however, had decreased.
“For the month of February the concern was the number of hijacking of motor vehicles. People are normally followed and hijacked in their driveways. The community needs to be aware that suspects now make use of any vehicle for criminal activity,” said Col Trollip.
He said there had been a few good successes throughout the month where suspects were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearm and EMPD reflector jackets, and were suspected to be involved in truck hijacking.
“In addition, the house break-ins for the month have also shown a decrease due to the patrols and the assistance of the CPF patrollers. Burglaries in residential areas have increased. Last year this time it was a total of 15 in February and this year it is higher. Theft of motor vehicles has also decreased in comparison with last year. Theft out of motor vehicle is a concern, as it has been happening often in the Greenstone area,” said Col Trollip.
EMPD’s Martin Koekemoer said that last month 27 motorists were arrested for driving under the influence and 248 arrests for by-law infringements were also made.
