Vryheid Community Policing Forum – While you were sleeping…

ON JULY 16 and 17, the members of Vryheid Community Policing Forum (CPF) held two open meetings for the public.

Although the meetings were poorly attended, the members who put their lives on the line every night to ensure the safety of Vryheid residents felt that it was quite important that the community becomes aware of the positive effect that their efforts and nightly patrols have had on lowering the crime rate in the residential areas of our town.
According to statistics from the police, crime in Vryheid has dropped by 67 percent since the CPF has been active.
Although criminal activity is still ongoing, albeit to a lesser extent, it has moved away from the suburbs and is more concentrated in the central business district.
These statistics are nothing less than an impressive indication of the success the CPF has had, even without much public support and with a surprisingly low membership.
“We would really appreciate if the public from Vryheid will get on board,” says Andre Rheder, founding member of the Vryheid CPF.
“We need more business men and women to join, especially from the central part of town,” added Mr Rheder, referring to the fact that crime appears to have moved away from the suburbs and is now concentrated in mid town between the businesses, “Businesses need to join up and take our hands.”
Another fact that has come to light due to the nightly patrols of the CPF and their observations of what goes on after the sun goes down, is that there is a significant increase in the amount of traffic violations and unroadworthy vehicles going through town.
“Complete wrecks are passing through town at night,” said Mr Rheder, “That unroadworthy wreck is the vehicle that might kill our families, if it is not taken off the road.”