When crime hits home or in your neighbourhood, most of us then take a look around us and wonder what can we do to fight the scourge of criminality.
Well, there is something you can do and it is specifically designed for the community and police to work in partnership and is called the Community Police Forum (CPF).
Police spokesperson Captain JS Sokhela explains what the CPF is: “The intention of this structure is to create a partnership between the community and the police in fighting crime. In other words this structure represents the community in discussions pertaining to policing problems in the area.
It is also a platform where the community advises the police about the way they are expected to serve them.
The CPF is a group of community members that are elected by the community to represent them in meetings with the police to address crime related issues.”
This forum is, according to the captain, the only community body that is legislated in the Police Act to represent the community in the police environment.
It is only through this body that the community can voice out their concerns to the police authorities.
The CPF allows easy access to the police and the public is able to voice their concerns and be part of the solution.
If you are interested in being part of this solution, then attend the CPF’s Annual General Meeting on July 9 at the Estcourt SAPS Conference Hall starting at 5.30pm.