MMC Sun – CPF public meetings are important to attend
LONEHILL– By attending CPF meetings, you be able to inform police and Metro police what the issues in your area are.
The turnout at the recent Douglasdale Community Policing Forum (CPF) public meeting was devastating as not a single resident attended.
According to the City of Johannesburg MMC for Public Safety, Michael Sun, public meetings should not be seen as the run of the mill type of meetings.
“The meetings are valuable and important for various reasons as they inform community members about issues regarding their area. They will also be able to receive a monthly report on successes and issues to attend to at these meetings.”
He explained that at these meetings, community members will be able to raise their concerns about issues they feel that the Metro police, Douglasdale police or Council should attend to.
“For me, these meetings also serve as an appropriate platform to report back on my department of public safety. At these meetings, residents will also get to learn about Metro police’s Operation Buya Mthetho, receive feedback on the progress of a new fire engine for Lonehill Fire Station, amongst other issues.”
Sun highlighted that from the report given by police at the meeting, the core issues in the area were an increase in vehicle-related crimes such as theft out of motor vehicles and an increase in drug-related problems.
“Both police and Metro police will organise joint operations to deal with the vehicle-related crimes.”
Ward 94 councillor David Foley stated that these meetings serve as a bridge between the community and police as well as Metro police. “We can achieve a lot if community members attend these meetings. The community is the eyes and ears for us out there and they report to the police and Metro police about hotspots, vagrancy, drug dealing and suspicious activity as the police cannot be at all the places at the same time.”
Foley encouraged community members to report suspicious activity to the police. “If you suspect that something is going on with your neighbour, strange smells or cooking of drugs, you need to report such.”
He urged community members to use these meetings to let them know what the issues in their neighbourhood are.
When last did you attend a CPF public meeting? Share your views on the Fourways Review Facebook page.
