Edenvale SAPS station commander Colonel Steven Moodley is ready to tackle 2018 head on.
Moodley was transferred to Edenvale Police Station in November.
Since the beginning of November Edenvale Police Station’s rating has improved overall.
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The station’s performance rating increased from two stars at the end of October to three stars at the end of November.
Its response time rating increased from three to five stars.
“In 2018 we will not dwell on the past. We will make the community stronger and safer,” Moodley said.
A priority for Moodley in the new year will be the re-establishment of the Edenvale Community Police Forums’ executive committee.
The election for the executive will be held at the end of January.
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To lay the foundations for the new CPF executive four sector crime forums were elected at the end of 2017.
The sector forums consist of 13 residents from each sector.
The executive will consist of members from the sector crime forums.
“The election will be held in a closed meeting and members of the sector crime forums will vote for a new executive,” said Moodley.
“With the new CPF everything will be done by the book.”
Another priority for Moodley in 2018 will be the establishment of a crime summit in Edenvale. The summit will see community role players identify problems in Edenvale and find solutions for the problems.
“The summit will focus on community members working together to find their own solutions to improve their town,” said Moodley.
It will be held at the beginning of February once the ECPF executive has been elected.
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Following the election of the CPF executive and the establishment of the crime summit Moodley hopes to change the perception of Edenvale SAPS.
He said it is vital for the community’s mindset to change.
“Police are often seen as uneducated people but that is not the case, within the SAPS we have numerous graduates,” said Moodley.
“I believe because some police members can’t communicate efficiently they are seen as inferior by the community.”
Moodley urged community members to be respectful to police officers.
“If we are respected we will respect you in return,” he said.
Captain Jean Olckers, spokesperson of the Edenvale SAPS, urged community members to report crime in the correct manner.
“Recently community members have been using WhatsApp and not the 10111 number,” said Olckers.
“Community members need to follow the correct procedure.”
When community members phone 10111 their call is recorded and they are given a reference number.
“If community members feel they need to raise a matter directly to the station’s management our doors are always open,” said Olckers.
