Apps aim to help improve local community safety
Community members are urged to download the Zello walkie-talkie app and join a network of concerned citizens who help fight crime in their communities.
HECTORSPRUIT – Safety and security is no longer an issue for the police and security companies only. It is a community concern.
While looking for ways to make the local community safer, a few residents got involved with the national Concerned Citizens project and discovered how two very useful apps could be utilised to fight crime.
Concerned Citizens was launched as an initiative of a community policing forum (CPF) in Pretoria and urged community members to utilise a walkie-talkie app called Zello to report suspicious-looking activities, persons and vehicles.
Reported crimes declined by more than half where community members actively participated and it was decided to expand the information and communication network to the whole country.
Mpumalanga has a Concerned Citizens Facebook page with more information on the channels in the province, as well has how to register to participate. Locally Hectorspruit, Malalane and Komatipoort have channels.
A local moderator told Corridor Gazette that Zello and the Concerned Citizens Group help to curb crime and make arrests more effectively. “Everyone in the community are your eyes and ears and give relevant information to the CPF, security companies and authorities,” he stated.
He explained that Zello, their main medium of communication, works as a two-way radio and involves minimal costs (data charges). They also use Telegram, a messaging app much like WhatsApp, for less urgent news and notifications.
The Zello channels are constantly monitored by moderators, both local and otherwise, who react on information, assist participants and notify the CPF, law- enforcement and emergency services in case their help is needed.
To ensure that undesirables do not get access to the network, users are carefully verified. Firstly, you need to download Zello and create an account, then sign up on concernedcitizens.co.za. A verification email will be sent to you.
Once you have added your relevant channel, you will need to speak to a moderator to make you a trusted user. The details from the verification email will be requested. Once you’re a trusted user, you’ll be able to report crime, suspicious-looking vehicles and people and medical emergencies.
Visit concernedcitizens.co.za for tips on individual, business and home protection, guidelines for patrol groups and how to report a crime online.
