In pursuit of community safety
NORWOOD – The sensitive role they play mainly requires support in terms of funds.
Conducting voluntary work which includes ensuring community safety requires a lot of support.
The Norwood Community Police Forum (CPF) Patrollers desperately require support in form of funds and suitable members to be recruited. Head of the Norwood CPF Patrollers, Evangelos Kostoglou said they have 13 active members, five patrol vehicles and conducted three patrols per week during the night.
“We are currently recruiting and suitable applicants may contact us on details provided. They will obviously be required to live or work in the Norwood precinct, provide a certified identity document and fingerprint clearances will be conducted to check for criminal records.
“All expenses are carried by the patrol members and funds are desperately needed for equipment,” Kostoglou added.
Norwood police spokesperson Sergeant Eric Masotsha confirmed that their partnership with the CPF Patrollers was fruitful and both parties learned a lot from each other. “We were there from the onset when they created their committee, and the committee members cooperate with us. We hold meetings with their representative every Monday to address their concerns. For instance, if there are complaints of illegal activities within the community we conduct operations with the patrollers to attend to the issues.”
The Norwood CPF Patrollers aim to keep the neighbourhood safe by:
- Being the eyes and ears of Norwood police.
- Reporting any suspicious persons or actions to the Norwood police.
- Conducting operations with police (not done presently due to Covid-19 restrictions) at hotspots.
- Stop and search with police.
- Supporting Pikitup on clean-ups.
- Supporting Pikitup and Metro police when issuing warnings and/or fines.
- Conducting static patrols with security companies as well as introducing the new concept of visibility.
- Assisting with victim empowerment – Victim Empowerment Centre (finding lost persons).
- Assisted with feeding schemes during the first wave of Covid-19.
- Monitoring curfew breaking.
- Encouraging social distancing at Sassa pay points.
- Sharing information on recent crime with neighbourhoods.
- Increasing vigilance and crime awareness with residents.
- Due to the increase of theft and vandalism of City Power substations and mini substations, monitor and secure the locations.
- Break-up of illegal street gambling
- Monitor other crime info groups ‘heads-up-warning’ of crime incidents which may affect the area.
- Assist in traffic control at accidents or crime scenes.
Details: Norwood Community Police Forum on Facebook.
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