Various groups shared the roles they play in the fight against crime at the Civilian Crime Intelligence Network (CCIN) Convention held at the Military Museum in Saxonwold. The CEO of ER24, Benjamin Johnson, said that ER24 might be a private service, but they provide services to the public and had contributed medical services valued at R17 million to those who couldn’t pay last year. Johnson added that they were committed to assisting the CCIN as they have an expansive fleet everywhere and can also be relied on for crime information as their members see a lot of things daily.
The Head of Visible Policing in Gauteng, Brigadier Mark Joseph, said partnerships didn’t come easy and platforms such as CCIN provide the space to nurture them through clearly defined roles. Joseph also emphasised the importance of letting the police handle crime scenes, as that is their role.
Gauteng chairperson for Faith-Based Organisations, Meshack Kethiso Thebe, said they don’t carry firearms but use ‘faith as bulletproofing’.
“We notice the trauma that the police members go through and our work is to be behind scenes, bringing stability and calmness. We never say ‘No’ when duty calls, and we strive to influence positive community work through our fantastic relationship with the police, security companies and emergency service officials,” he said.
CEO of IRS Forensic Investigations, Chad Thomas, said encouraging partnerships will bring about a visible turnaround, and should be supported. Adding on to that, the executive chairperson for the Gauteng Community Police Board, Thokozani Jacob Masilela said, “The partnerships we keep talking about need to bear fruit at some point. The province is flooded by school safety issues and at some point CCIN must be attached to schools in order to fight crime. Let’s involve the youth, incorporate technology and participate in community meetings.”
A vote of thanks was given by CCIN administrative head, Bhavini Dalpat.
Visit the Civilian Crime Intelligence Network’s website at https://www.ccin.org.za for more information.
