A year-end message from Bramley CPF

Interim chairperson of the Bramley CPF, Harvey Phalatse writes:

2018 has been a long, eventful year, albeit with ups and downs in terms of crime patterns across the Bramley policing precinct and as crime patterns change so must our response evolve to meet those challenges.

Regretfully, we have had several serious incidents throughout the year in both contact crimes and trio crimes including murders, robberies, housebreakings, carjacking and domestic violence but as the Community Policing Forum, we have been extremely encouraged by the proactive steps taken by the South African Police Service team at our police station in this regard which resulted in some successful arrests and conviction by our courts.

Crime affects all of us, regardless of culture, creed, race, and religion; it is, therefore, paramount that police and the community forge and sustain relations in fighting crime.

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Some sections of residents within the precinct continued to raise their hands and make valuable contributions to crime prevention initiatives which demonstrates the importance of community involvement in fighting crime.

We can never over-emphasise the importance of community involvement in our quest to fight crime, without your involvement we are not going to be successful as a collective.

We urge everyone in our precinct to get involved in crime-fighting initiatives, including active involvement with the Community Policing Forum structures which have been established to improve communication between the SAPS and the community, to foster joint problem-solving and cooperation with a view to improving service delivery by the police service.

The SAPS is answerable to the communities they serve and therefore your active participation as residents and stakeholders in these structures will enable the CPF to perform that vital role of civilian oversight of the police in the precinct.

I want to particularly thank my colleagues on the Community Policing Forum executive committee, Sector forums, the Station Commander of Bramley SAPS Colonel Owen King and the entire team both the uniformed police and support staff at the local police station, community patrollers, security companies and all our residents for ensuring that 2018 is indeed a productive year.

Working together, we have been very successful in bringing the perpetrators of crimes to book and there is a need for sustained exposure of these success stories.

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I would also like to give special thanks to the local media for the role they have continued to play throughout the year as our strategic partner in providing an important communication platform by reporting crimes committed, making follow-ups but also publishing SAPS success stories in their fight against crime.

Let me take this opportunity of wishing all a safe and relaxed holiday period and we look forward to working together in 2019.