Yeoville CPF reviews 2013
The Yeoville Community Police Forum (CPF) is ready for the challenges that lie ahead in the new year.
Before beginning the new year, the forum took some time to examine the past year’s challenges in its efforts to fight crime.
Mr Keith Peacock, the chairperson of the Yeoville CPF, described the previous year as an odd one.
“It was an odd year, with lots of opinions being shared about the annual crime statistics. What is clear is that for Gauteng and Johannesburg, the figures look far better than they did 10 years ago,” said Mr Peacock.
What was more remarkable, he said, was the significant increase in the population during that period. “We must always remember that one crime is one too many, and we really need a zero tolerance approach by all,” said Mr Peacock.
He emphasised that the police cannot do it on their own and residents should not expect them to. He highlighted that contact crime, ranging from murder to robbery with aggravating circumstances, reduced by 30 percent in the Yeoville precinct, which includes most of Observatory, Bellevue and Yeoville.
“In the Yeoville precinct, the hijacking of vehicles declined significantly, by 62 percent, and robbery at residential premises decreased by 72 percent,” said Mr Peacock.
He said the police have switched from the old, reactive approach of waiting until the crime is reported to a more proactive approach.
“A worrying trend has been the reduction in reported crime against women. The cluster has asked all station commanders to report on what they are doing to encourage women to come forward,” said Mr Peacock.
He mentioned that the Gauteng Provincial Government is rolling out the Green Door project in over 800 wards in the province, which will provide support to women and children.
He added that the Yeoville CPF works with the City of Johannesburg and its departments in different ways.
“We regularly meet with the various agencies to receive progress reports, to identify challenges and how they can be solved,” said Mr Peacock.
Regarding the prostitution in Observatory, he said the Yeoville CPF can only do so much. “Our approach and that of the police is not to arrest them, but to ensure they do not operate in the residential areas. We have engaged with non governmental organisations who work with prostitutes to reduce risky sexual practices, inappropriate behaviour and to ensure that the rights and responsibilities are understood,” said Mr Peacock.
