Station commanders may call on CPF to assist
A statement sent by the Gauteng Provincial Community Police Board said that CPF members may assist during lockdown if they are called upon by their relevant police station commander.
The Gauteng Provincial Community Police Board has released a statement to say that the Community Policing Forums (CPFs) will be able to assist during the 21-day lockdown.
The statement sent by the Board’s public relations officer, Dr MR Patel said, “We are pleased to announce that CPFs will be granted the ability to actively assist their corresponding stations, on the provision that they are called upon to serve by their relevant station commander”.
He added that the CPF will not be prosecuted for breach of the existing Disaster Management Regulations.
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CPF members will be under the supervision of the relevant station commander during the period of the lockdown, and will function as the police’s eyes and ears only.
This means gathering intelligence and reporting on trespassing directives of the National Disaster Plan.
“No CPF member will discharge any official police function, save as may be ordered by the relevant station commander. In addition no member may exit the area in which they are operating while in service.”
This means they will only be required for duty when called upon by the relevant station commander in the form of a written request to report for duties as will be identified.
“Members may report breaches of the published regulations of any individual or business directly at their station. Members may be called upon to facilitate testing at medical facilities, monitoring regulatory compliance and serving to assist police members when called upon.
“As such, members must understand that they may be exposed to the coronavirus. Such exposure will be at own risk of the individual member,” Patel said in his statement.
During these exercises no member may be armed, and members must wear identifying insignia and have a permit from their station commander with them at all times.
“We emphasise that serving as a CPF member during the lockdown period is voluntary. No member will be prejudiced by any decision to not participate at this time,” Patel explained.
He ended by asking members to be careful, smart, not become a dead hero, and take all the necessary precautions.
