Xulu makes inroads in fight against crime in north Durban
Colonel Patience Xulu has performed many roles in her 21 years of service to the SAPS and was recently appointed as the Visible Policing (VISPOL) commander at the Durban North police station.
SHE may have been in her role as Visible Policing (VISPOL) commander at the Durban North SAPS for only a year but Lieutenant Colonel Patience Xulu is already making inroads in the fight against crime.
Xulu, who has performed many roles in her 21 years of service to the SAPS, said she has been welcomed with open arms by the members of the station, the community as well as the CPF and security companies.
“I didn’t expect that everyone was this close in an urban area but it has been eye-opening how the community and the structures work with the SAPS. I’ve been welcomed by the members and the other roleplayers in the community and I think key to this fight against crime is how we’ve gelled together. In Empangeni I acted in my role as CPF coordinator so I know first hand how we can implement crime fighting strategies targeting problem areas within the wards we serve.
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“I believe the success we’ve enjoyed is down to the role of station management, our members and the roleplayers, like the CPF and various security companies,” she explained.
Since her arrival, Xulu has concentrated on all crimes and has also targeted theft out of motor vehicles and theft of motor vehicles.
This paid off when the Crime Prevention Unit recently arrested a gang of criminals stealing vehicles in the north Durban area.
Xulu explained that around 70 per cent of the function of the station fell under the watch of the VISPOL commander.
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“My role sees me wear many caps including the head of the CSC, Community Service Center, gun licensing, crime prevention and social crime to name a few. When I joined the station last year it was in the middle of the level 5 lockdown so it was difficult to assess crime patterns due to the lack of movement. But I looked at the daily crime stats and saw where we can improve,” she said.
At the moment the most prevalent crimes were fraud cases and thefts from residents’ homes and yards.
While Xulu acknowledges that crime patterns are ever-changing and the fight is never over, she has now set the goal of getting more members stationed at the Umhlanga SAPS satellite station on Autumn Drive.
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