EDITOR – In the Southlands SUN publication dated 24 March, on page 6 “Yard-hopper burglar netted”, a comment was made by Rake Jeeves, Community Orientated Policing (COP) chairman: “Working closely with SAPS, Metro Police and Blue Security, COP has in itself become a private police force of sorts made up entirely of volunteers,” added Rake.
READ HERE: COP network pounces on yard-hopping night-time burglar
Mr Jeeves’ comment has prompted the following response: SAPS, Brighton Beach management would like to place on record that we do not acknowledge COP as a private police force, nor will we support the COP group as a private police force.
The Constitution of South Africa does not make provision for a private police force. Thus by making a public statement that COP is a private police force of sorts within the Brighton Beach policing precinct, Mr Jeeves has placed the COP group in violation of the Constitution of SA.
Community support in combatting crime is imperative, and we at SAPS Brighton Beach welcome any endeavour to combat crime, as long as those who support the same vision as us do so within the prescripts of the law.
Capt LT Le Roux
Sub-section commander: Media monitoring and liaison services
COP’s response
EDITOR – Community Orientated Policing or COP, as it has been known for the last eight years, is a non-profit voluntary Bluff Initiative, which no doubt has had many successes in assisting with emergency situations on the Bluff.
Currently we have about 2,000 community members linked to our emergency hotline alone, which is available 24/7 to the community. The community volunteers find it unfortunate and demoralising that SAPS Brighton Beach management does not support our efforts.
Technically we may not always get our wording right, but the fact of the matter is we are trying to do the best we can to assist Brighton Beach SAPS in emergency situations and lower the crime on the Bluff to make it a better place for all.
COP MEMBERS
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