Rights organisation launches safety survey
AfriForum has launched a nationwide safety survey, urging residents to report on safety in the community.
CIVIL rights organisation, AfriForum, launched a national campaign aimed at analysing community safety and the efficiency of local police stations in communities.
The campaign takes the form of a survey that is being distributed across the country in the endeavour to assess perceived safety levels in communities and offering ways to address crime in specific areas.
Part of the survey is designed to get a feeling of the ability of local police stations to address crime and service delivery within their jurisdiction. AfriForum hopes to engage the South African Police Service at management level and hand over the results of this survey.
Reg Crewe, AfriForum head of community safety, said what AfriForum really wants to achieve is that citizens stop for a few minutes and objectively look at their safety issues.
“People need to assess their security companies, the police service as well as look at community safety structures in their neighbourhood,” Crewe said.
“We also want to get an idea of who is involved in community safety initiatives, and who is not. The result of the safety analysis will give us a good indicator of where to focus our energy in terms of getting involved in the creation or enhancing of local safety initiatives in towns and communities,” he added.
Crewe said the success of the campaign lies in people reaching out to AfriForum and giving the information. “AfriForum strives to make the difference in communities and in particular where civil rights are being violated or the safety of citizens is in jeopardy.”
The first part of the analysis is a look at the service levels provided to communities by the SAPS. People are offered an opportunity to grade the service of their local police station. AfriForum will compile a report, and give each police station feedback of the communities’ perception of the service being rendered. This will give the police station an opportunity to address concerns over service delivery, which AfriForum will monitor.
The remainder of the survey will be used to join hands with communities and come up with strategies to address crime concerns.
Everybody is invited to participate in the survey, which is available on AfriForum’s website at www.afriforum.co.za and is available in both English and Afrikaans.
Enquiries can be directed to Reg Crewe on 012 644 3904 or reg@afriforum.co.za
If you wish to support AfriForum in this community safety initiative, you can SMS the word ‘Safety’ to 31336. SMSes charged at 50c.
