Norwood CPF goes the extra mile to assist police with crime
NORWOOD – The forum's primary short-term goal is to assist the police with information campaigns and operations to reduce the expected annual crime peaks over the festive season.
Norwood Community Police Forum met on 15 September to elect and endorse new members to its committee.
The robust team now has a full complement of volunteers in all four sectors.
For the first time in many years, the forum is truly representative of communities across the entire Norwood precinct and can fulfil its mandate of being the ‘eyes and ears’ for Norwood police and assisting with crime prevention strategies.
Emily Wellman, PR for Sector 4, said this is a liaison vehicle between the community and the police. “This is especially important at times when SAPS needs to be held accountable if there are problems or issues that are not being addressed appropriately,” Wellman said.
On October 6, the group met to host the first of their monthly meetings that the executive must hold. It is hoped that monthly community or public community forum meetings will resume now that Covid-19 figures are low and lockdown restrictions have been eased.
Wellman added that their primary short-term goal is to assist the police with information campaigns and operations to reduce the expected annual crime peaks over the festive season.
They will inform communities in all four sectors of who the various representatives are, so that it is easy for people to contact them, and to educate the public on which law enforcement bodies should be contacted for different concerns or areas – be it Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department or South African Police Service.
“One of the most exciting outcomes is the formal launch of the ‘Community in Blue’ which takes over from the now-defunct neighbourhood watch,” Wellman said.
“It comprises of over 20 individuals who will be working with SAPS to reduce crime by patrolling each sector at various times on foot and by car, to alert SAPS to any criminal activity they see, to assist the public if appropriate, and to be another conduit between SAPS and private security companies of irregular or criminal activities they come across.”
Under the leadership of Wayne Preston, Norwood Community Police Forum’s chairperson, the constitutionally mandated role of the forum can now be realised, which according to public relations officer Annie Hodes, is good news for the entire precinct.
