Join your CPF to defeat crime and build communities

Year end message from the Douglasdale precinct community police forum chair, Jean Berdou:

The festive season and 2010 are upon us and it’s time to pause and take stock of the past year and hopefully look forward to a bit of a holiday break. Many readers will be embarking on their holiday journeys and then there are all those shopping sprees and functions with family and friends not to mention all the indulging. But as I’m sure you are aware, crime doesn’t take holidays.

A community united will make criminals divided!
No informed South African needs to be reminded about crime in our nation with regular reminders replete in the media and around us. But one fact stands out above all, when a community stands together in unity, as one, crime can and will be defeated!

The vision of the Douglasdale Community Police Forum (CPF), which covers all areas bounded between Main Road in the East, Malibongwe Drive in the West, to the Concrete Highway to the South to just before Diepsloot to the North, is to unite the community in our area in the fight against crime and to partner with the South African Police Services in these endeavours.

Donations through CPF facilitating improvements
The Douglasdale CPF has launched a series of initiatives to be completed before the end of 2009 including the creation of a proper parking facility and helipad for the Douglasdale police station.

They have also embarked on the introduction of information technology and equipment upgrades for the SAPS, the provision of brand new Golf and Golf GTI vehicles to substantially enhance the patrol and reaction capability of the Douglasdale SAPS and a series of anti crime operations targeting identified hot spots and involving hundreds of well trained and well equipped personnel.

These operations will be carried out from now and will continue throughout the festive period by employing new technology and recently sourced crime intelligence.
Gifts for the needy

Additionally, for the first time the CPF together with the SAPS, various community volunteers and church groups have embarked upon a joint initiative to collect foodstuffs, toys for children, toiletries and other materials, backed by the incredibly generous business community in our precinct, items will be distributed by dozens of community and church volunteers each Saturday of December.

This initiative aims to bring across the message that the community does truly care for the plight of the underprivileged, is proactive in meeting the material needs of our less privileged community members and that there is an alternative to crime.

Let’s welcome our 2010 guests
2010 itself is going to be an exciting and historic year with the world looking to our nation as we host Africa’s largest ever sporting event. Our precinct will host thousands of international visitors in hotels (some completing construction just in time for the event), and bed and breakfast facilities and we must ensure their safety and welcome them as our guests.

The Douglasdale CPF shall, in 2010, be embarking upon a series of substantial initiatives including:
The construction of a new client service centre at the Douglasdale Police Station
Considerable increase in SAPS personnel deployed to the Douglasdale police station
The launch of various training programmes to enhance personnel capability
The continuation of technology roll outs and upgrades in the fight against crime

The enhancement of CPF sub structures in each and every section of our precinct (there are 6 sectors within the CPF Douglasdale)
The improvement of crime intelligence gathering
The co-ordination of the operations of security service providers
The sustaining of the community outreach to the underprivileged. Additional victims of crime support initiatives to address the legacy of crime, as well as prosecution support, are planned.
Your Community needs you!

However, all these initiatives need you the community member to roll up your sleeves and get involved and contribute. No matter how great or small, your contribution to the fight against crime is essential.
So whether you can donate:
Non perishable foodstuffs and toys
Volunteer to assist with training programmes
Donate funds or motor vehicles
Provide services
Donate building materials
Pray for the SAPS personnel and holds vigils against crime
Help with community clean ups
Serve on CPF structures
Petition and lobby government for resources or action
Adopt and maintain intersections
Report suspicious activities, persons and vehicles to the police
Take proper precautions to safeguard your property and family and that of others
Or whatever your abilities and capabilities, your contribution is critical to the successful fight against crime, poverty and community apathy.

On that note may, I challenge you one and all to get involved and help your CPF. The CPF can be contacted through our public relations officer, Susan Mottram at 082-465-8718 or e-mail: susan@headline.co.za
It then remains for me, on behalf of the CPF and SAPS, to wish you all a blessed and crime-free festive season, and an abundant and prosperous 2010. Together we can achieve the dream of a crime-free and zero-tolerance precinct.