Operation Duty Calls visible at Westgate
Roodepoort police and JMPD take Operation Duty Calls to Westgate Shopping Centre.
Patrons of the Westgate Shopping Centre might have noticed the Roodepoort police and JMPD displays on the last weekend of September.
Roodepoort police spokesperson Vincent Mashiteng says that “police visibility becomes increasingly important during the festive season”.
The Roodepoort SAPS, JMPD and Roodepoort Community Policing Forum (CPF) made a clear effort to assemble powerful displays at Entrance 2 of the shopping centre on Friday 27 September. These displays, according to Mashiteng, are part of Operation Duty Calls and aim to educate residents. During the festive season, Mashiteng says, crimes within shopping centres intensify.
“By increasing our visibility we can show our dedication and educate residents while warding off criminals from shopping centres.
“We want them to know what the different units of the Roodepoort police are, and what their purposes are.
“We’d like everyone to see the drugs that are dealt in in Roodepoort.”
“This table,” Mashiteng says, pointing out a table displaying the actual weapons used and the actual drug-related products circulating in the Roodepoort area, “will show you exactly what nyope is, what dagga looks like, what ecstasy looks like and what kind of materials are used for taking these drugs.
“You need to know what is happening in your community, and here you can learn what to look out for.”
Pamphlets and information about the different careers within the police service are available at the display inside the centre at Entrance 2.
Roodepoort CPF’s Glyn Barry is impressed with what is being done.
“So much negativity surrounds the national police service at this stage – everyone focuses on corruption within the police and people don’t see the good work that they do.
“This kind of display shows exactly how dedicated our officers are and counters that negative image.”
“We are taking the service to the people,” says Constable Nkosi who mans a parking lot display.
The Operation Duty Calls displays will be at Westgate Shopping Centre until Tuesday 3 October, after which Roodepoort police and JMPD will remain active in the shopping centre and surrounds. Mashiteng hopes that they will be able to do the same at Clearwater Mall in December.
