Community confused by Midrand police decision

According to affected parties, they understood from a meeting that Midrand police were halting joint operations, and said they were shocked by the decision allegedly taken by police.

They spoke anonymously to Midrand Reporter and all voiced the same frustrations. They alleged Midrand police were struggling to curb crime without the help and tip-offs from policing forums and security companies. They also claimed that Midrand Police Station was under-staffed and under-resourced.

They also claimed that at a recent public meeting, police refused to answer why, after a 10-year partnership, the joint operations would be disbanded and why the police decided to have legal representation at that meeting.

However, in a statement, Midrand Police Station commander Colonel Steven Moodley denied that police had disbanded joint operations. He said, “We had a meeting on 14 August chaired by our cluster commander and the representative of police legal services, who advised those present about the risks to members of Community Police Forums, sector crime forums and security companies [of] being injured or killed while involved in operational activities.

“It was made clear that police cannot be held responsible if members of the community were injured or killed during joint operations. Security companies can only be actively involved in their area where they are contracted.

“This does not mean that police will not work hand in hand with our communities… You are our eyes and ears… [but] it is important not to put our communities at risk unnecessarily.”Tembisa cluster commander Major General Vincent Leshabane denied that police had disbanded joint operations.

“Police will continue to work with police forums and security companies 100 percent. We only emphasised that it is against the law for them to have roadblocks and address the community on police issues without police being present,” he said.

Midrand Community Policing Forum chairperson, Billy Rudlin, declined to comment on the issue.

“The forum will not comment at this point, we are expecting to meet with the cluster commander,” he said.

Gauteng Provincial Community Police Board chairperson responsible for 141 community police forums and 22 cluster boards, Andy Mashaile said, “According to South African Police Service Act 68 Chapter 7, Section 8, it states that the MEC for Community Safety has legal power to give a directive to establish or disband a police forum.

“Police and the community are encouraged to work together hand-in-glove. Security companies must be led by police, but, the MEC for Community Safety has the legal power to dissolve police forums.”