Community to establish crime prevention body

ALMOST 100 Birch Acres residents attended a community meeting, hosted by Norkem Park SAPS, at Mooifontein Primary School on June 3 to discuss the way forward in crime prevention through establishing a crime prevention body that would involve both police and residents.

Lt Col Ricardo Reggeri, the crime prevention head of Norkem Park SAPS, made mention of the fact that no relationship existed between the police station and the Birch Acres community, therefore it was vital that the community became more involved in the fight against crime.

He also acknowledged that improvements could be made to ensure that Birch Acres residents enjoyed their democratic right to a safe and secure environment.

With this in mind, the community was invited to become part of a crime prevention body, to be known as the sector 3 policing forum, in collaboration with Norkem Park SAPS Policing Forum, which would congregate on the first Thursday of every month.

This policing forum body will develop and implement simple crime prevention programmes such as know your neighbour, where residents are encouraged to be acquainted with each other; and street patrolling, which would utilise the services of unemployed members of the community, therefore creating opportunity for employment.

Ward 91 PR councillor Allan Sauls of the DA, welcomed the idea and said serving the Birch Acres community should be the primary focus of the police, who acted as public servants of the community, and himself, who acted as the representative of the residents.

“Reacting to crime is not assisting anybody, however, taking a strong stand in preventing crime becomes a participatory and engaging programme between the Birch Acres community and the police,” Sauls said.

“The public would also play an invaluable role in reviewing current crime fighting resources and work with the police in improving these resources for crime prevention.”

During the question and answer session, residents openly shared many of their unfortunate experiences being victims of crime and gratitude was shown to Norkem police for their support during those times.

“Many suggestions were also offered by the public, such as creating a WhatsApp group, which would allow concerned community members with access to such technologies join the group and share crime related matters.”

Residents who would like to become involved can contact either Reggeri on 082-461-0686 or Sauls on 082-685-7951.