Nigel Community on Patrol welcomes all to join
NIGEL - Members of the community were invited to a crime prevention meeting, which took place on October 23. The meeting was hosted by former Nigel CPF patrollers and served to inform the community of the current status of the CPF and to encourage residents to join forces with the re-established neighbourhood watch - Nigel Community on Patrol (NCOP).
Addressing a crowd of over 100 residents, Martin Harris announced that Nigel CPF had been facing numerous challenges, the most important of which is the fact that it had been without an executive board for most part of the last three to four years.
He emphasised the three important organisational elements of the CPF which is structure, management and information and said the SAPS Nigel station commander, Vispol head and sector managers all have to work with the local communities.
“As a result of too many challenges, most CPF members resigned and made a joint decision to join the NCOP. The NCOP still has a working agreement with SAPS Nigel and operations will basically remain the same,” Harris said. * The way forward Next to take the stand was former CPF member Pieter Nel. He said Nigel CPF will cease to exist if the challenges are not dealt with soon. “For many years, we have fought hard to keep the CPF alive and well, but it would seem the MEC for community safety has a different view. He is focused on the executive board and CPF structure and has little interest in the patrollers,” Nel said.
However, the fact remains that the police cannot deal with the problems and issues arising from crime and anti-social behaviour alone and they need the help of the whole community.
“A neighbourhood watch such as NCOP provides a way for residents to play an important part in addressing this balance and making their communities safer. We are therefore asking residents to join the NCOP as patrollers. Everything will remain the same – radio communication, patrols, communication with the police, the social media groups – nothing will change, except for the fact that we will operate as NCOP patrollers and not the CPF,” Harris assured residents.
In addition, former CPF head of patrollers Shaun Bamford said they will collaborate with residents from Jameson Park and Kaydale to also join forces with the NCOP, in safeguarding communities on the outskirts of town. He further stressed the importance to promote accountability of SAPS Nigel to the community, as well as the cooperation of the community with the local police and thanked the relevant SAPS sector managers for working closely with the patrollers to ensure a safer community for all. After the meeting adjourned, residents were left with an important decision – whether to join the NCOP as patrollers or to remain members of the CPF.
* Do you want to join NCOP?
For enquiries, phone Delia on 082 553 8826 or Lien on 084 398 0002. It is important to always report all crime to SAPS Nigel on 011 812 6503. NCOP also has an emergency assistance number in case residents cannot immediately reach the police. Their number is 065 170 2859.
