CRIME in the Norkem Park SAPS precinct could spin out of control as the station battles shortages on several fronts.
The DA is petitioning the national minister of police, Nkosinathi Nhleko, to increase the allocation of police officers and resources at Norkem Park Police Station.
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In a media statement released by DA PR councillor, Allan Sauls, Sauls said he had been receiving numerous complaints from residents about the poor visibility of policing in Norkem Park.
“In order to increase safety in the area, residents have begun conducting their own patrols. However, without the necessary support from the police, civilians conducting these patrols are being put in dangerous situations, which they are not properly trained to handle,” he said.
Sauls said he had written to Norkem Park Police Station commander, Col Francinah Tshabalala, to enquire why police visibility in the area was so poor.
The station commander replied:
The Norkem Park policing precinct is divided into three sectors. Currently only one patrol vehicle is available in each sector instead of two vehicles due to a shortage of manpower.
This shortage has resulted in the station also only having two officers operating as part of the crime prevention unit.
One of the reasons for the shortage of police officers is because six officers were transferred to Tembisa South Police Station and were not replaced.
Other police officers have been promoted or transferred to other stations without any replacements.
The Edleen community has been allocated to the Birch Acres precinct without additional police officers being deployed, despite the increase in patrol area.
“It is critical that SAPS management and officers currently stationed at Norkem Park Police Station get the support and resources they need to do their jobs,” said Sauls.
“The DA is committed to supporting the police in making our communities safer.” Tshabalala confirmed there was a shortage of vehicles at the station and said the cluster commander was assisting by providing five vehicles to Norkem on a daily basis from surrounding cluster stations as an intervention.
