AS crime prevention and awareness grips the community, Berea SAPS are finding Sector Policing is taking off well.
According to Berea SAPS spokesman, Lt PN Naidoo the sectors in the Berea precinct have been broken down from five to just two sectors.
Sector One precinct area includes Ridge Road going down to Centenary/Old Dutch Road around Greyville Race Course to Marriot and into Nelson Road, it covers Musgrave Centre, Greyville Race Course, The Atrium (Overport City) DUT and DLI.
Sector Two precinct area includes Berea Road North boarder to Ridge Road and down to Old Dutch Road then Mitchell Crescent to Marriott Road and Trematon Road, it covers Windermere Centre, Avondale Centre and the Florida Road business area.
“The Sector commanders are currently working on a profile of the area where they collect information about operating hours for businesses, schools, churches, senior citizen clubs and any community activities and bring this information back to the station to create a 'Sector File',” explained Naidoo.
Through this networking to create the 'Sector File', police have a profile of the community activities in the area as well as a data base of residents so they are aware of functions and activities in the area and can support the community during functions. “The Sector File also helps police strategise and engage with the community on crime trends and patterns. Sector policing also assists with crime projects in the area specific to the needs of that sector. Whether its a drug scourge that needs attention or a crime walk or even environmental issues affecting crime like municipal lighting issues.”
Berea CPF Chairman, Paul Antao, said he was very happy with the hard work the two sectors commanders have put it. “They have to understand, the crime patterns and be available when the community is available to network, visit schools and businesses and talk with people. We are at a good place and its thanks to our station Commander Colonel Nathaniel Kweyama for putting his weight behind sector policing.”
Although there isn't an immediate reduction in crime due to the work of sector policing, Antao has no doubt that in the coming months there will an expected decrease in crime.
“We suffered with apathy at the beginning but find that the community is getting involved and getting crime prevention structures affiliated to SAPS. Crime prevention from the community is important as it helps police with people being more careful thereby leaving less opportunity for crime to take place. We don't get vigilante activity and are always connected to police for support,” he added.
Bob Humphreys Sector One community chair, said he was also happy with the way the Sector was being run by 'seriously committed” police despite limited resources. “We just need more buy in from the community.”
Contact the Sector Commanders for more information and to get involved in Sector Policing on 079 696 3635 W/O Deena Naidoo (Sector One) and 082 463 3328 (Sector Two).
