This was revealed by Alexandra Cluster commander Major General Zodwa Molefe at a Midrand police crime awareness imbizo [gathering] where only a handful of residents turned up even though the meeting had been highly publicised.
Molefe also revealed that Midrand Police Station was one of the top 30 stations in the province that were faced with a huge challenge to bring down high levels of crime.
She said, “Crime levels are high, yet the police station is understaffed. A total of 21 police students is expected to graduate in two years, a small solution with regard to the station’s personnel shortage.”
Molefe said a crime analysis for the station showed that it struggled to deal with overwhelming crime incidents in the area, mainly due to a shortage of police staff.
The analysis of Midrand Police Station also found that:
- Crimes that are rife in the Midrand policing area include truck hijackings and theft of motor vehicles
- In April this year crime was down, but from May to date, crime increased, especially house break-ins. Residents were advised to emphasise to domestic workers to be alert and to lock doors at all times. Some domestic workers were unaware of high crime levels in Midrand
- A number of stolen vehicles were old. Criminals steal them to reuse car parts
- Most suspects arrested were repeat offenders
- Reservists assist police in combating crime, but they do not carry weapons. They have to be trained to add to the number of personnel on standby at the station. A base camp team of police officers, Tactical Reaction Team and members of 10111 all assist at the station, but it was still not enough
- Police need to improve relationships with security companies and vet security companies, as some have allegedly contributed to crime in the past
- Police have had challenges with crimes against students from Midrand Graduate Institute. The social crime prevention team has, and will continue to meet and give students safety tips
- Taxi route wars on the R55 due to squabbles over Mall of Africa routes pose a challenge for the station. Metro police have been of great help in restoring order regarding taxi-related violence.
Midrand Police Station commander Colonel Steven Moodley said the shortage of personnel should not be an excuse for alleged delays in police reaction time to reported crimes.
“What we want the community to know is that we prioritise complaints. If police are on the way to respond to a robbery that took place, and on the way there is a murder, police will attend to the murder first,” he explained.
Moodley added that there were three to four vehicles per sector, a limiting factor in an area with many criminal incidents.
Midrand Crime Policing Forum deputy chairperson, Takis Michalakis said there was a need for proactive visible policing, and the community needed to report crimes and work together with police.
Join the Joburg North Local News WhatsApp group to share your views on this story. Just send a WhatsApp message with your name and surname to 079 439 5345.
