Watch out! There is a new chairman in town
Read up on the plans and projects the new chairman, Grant Cockburn, has scheduled for the neighbourhood watch.
THE Mvoti Neighbourhood Watch is set to undergo some changes following the recent election of its new chairman, Grant Cockburn.
Taking over from Wayne Netmann, Cockburn, who is a corporate security manager by trade, said he hoped not only to continue and uphold the success of the watch, but also planned to improve on its efficiency.
“As a community we are most concerned with the increase in crime and as such our main objectives are to keep the statistics down and to keep our area secure. Ideally we would like to see people feeling safe again, walking their dogs and kids riding their bicycles down the street,” he said.
To achieve these goals, he said they would be implementing several crime-fighting initiatives, including an effort to maintain the fences surrounding the watch’s parameter to limit easy access and escape routes.
Another primary focus of the watch, he said, would be to find a solution to the random shootings and uncontrolled gun solutes that have plagued the Redhill Cemetery for years.
“This has placed residents’ lives at risk and cannot be tolerated any longer,” he said as a concerned husband and father of two.
What’s more, they would also be rolling out an initiative to set up CCTV surveillance at all the entrances and high-risk areas in the community.
“The use of this technology has been proven to reduce crime as the criminals know they are being watched. It also helps us detect criminal elements before and after incidents have taken place,” he said.
The erection of guard huts has also taken priority. To date, they have three stations up and running and hope to increase that to seven by the end of the year, added Cockburn.
“We have a dedicated team of residents who patrol the area at night and day on a roster basis. Our role is to be the eyes and ears of the community and to share information. It’s not about putting people’s lives at risk. It is their job to alert authorities should they spot anything untoward. Therefore we are hoping to increase our membership this year from 64 per cent to 80 per cent. More eyes and ears means better security for all,” he said.
