The Gauteng Department of Community Safety, along with police, were present at Chief Mogale Hall in Kagiso recently to educate and provide important insight to the community on how they can play a role in combating crime.
Clarity was also given on the police’s Victim Empowerment Programme which provides insight to citizens on what their rights are and how they can play a significant role in helping victims identify the perpetrator and reducing gender-based violence (GBV) crimes.
“The programme plays a role by being actively involved in the CPF in the community to assist the police with identifying crime issues within the communities, becoming volunteers working at Victim Friendly Rooms at police stations or in other Victim Empowerment Centres within the community,” said West Rand District Police Commissioner, Major General Fred Kekana.
He added these are dedicated rooms within a police station to provide a space for victims of intimate violence (gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual offences and domestic violence) to make their statements in private and within a non-threatening environment.
Kekana continued that the police are trained to treat victims with fairness, respect and courtesy in private, without discrimination regardless of circumstances, race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation and appearance.
“The police take a statement professionally and sensitively with respect for the victim’s right to privacy and complete all the necessary forms to register the crime. The police member will interview the victim in a language that they understand, and if the member cannot speak the language, he or she will arrange for an interpreter. A trained member of the police, who is the same gender as the victim [if possible], will interview the victim, in the case of a sexual offence, the member must assist the victim in obtaining alternative clothing to wear if his/ her clothing is required for evidence.
“An investigating officer must be summoned to tend to the victim. Victims must be offered a suitable place to wait, for example in the Victim Friendly Room, especially in cases like domestic violence or sexual offences. Provide victims with information about the reported case, such as the case number, the details of the investigating officer and a copy of the statement.”
