COP needs more volunteers to keep crime at bay
Bluff's COP is on patrol and protecting the neighbourhood.
THE Bluff Community Orientated Police (COP) have stepped up the pace to keep the community safe as they call on more people to get involved.
COP members are working to keep the Bluff safe through an array of volunteer units, including a bike squad, crime prevention unit, high visibility foot beat group, street COP members, general COP participants, the Bluff reaction unit (BRU) and the alert system. “We are working to make our community a safer place and appreciate all the volunteers who step in to play their part. More people are needed, however, if we are to keep crime at bay,” said COP chairman, Rake Jeeves.
One of the newer units in the COP arsenal is the bike squad. This group started just over a year ago and currently has 11 members, headed by Geoff Wellbeloved. The team patrols side streets, parks and bushes – especially in known crime hotspots and areas inaccessible by car.
“The bike squad is one of our most powerful tools we have to deter and fight crime. It can also respond far quicker than cars as we can take shortcuts to get to incidents. They also do joint operations with the SAPS bike unit as often as possible,” said Reeves.
For information on the bike unit or to join, email Geoff on geoffw48@gmail.com.
The crime prevention unit, headed by Tom Scullard, patrols the streets, mainly at night and in the early morning. The team is mostly made up of ex-SAPS or military people and has made arrests, deterred crime and rid areas of illegal squatters, often in joint operations with police.
Email Tom Scullard on Tom.Scullard@transnet.net to join.
Other COP units include the high visibility foot beat, which consists mainly of retired residents or people who work from home, patrol streets and shopping centres during the day; the street unit – members who patrol their own streets; general members, who patrol in their cars as often as possible and the BRU – a team of four who react to incidents.
Finally, there is the COP and Detts alert system. BBM and WhatsApp messages received by operator, Claudette are sent to the community, COP members, security companies and police whenever an incident occurs.
To be added to the WhatsApp group, send a message to 076-747-8885. For the BBM group, add BBM Pin29885218.
