CPF Reports

... that stands for Community Policing Forum...

Every month, Humewood SAPS holds a meeting with chairmans and other members of the local Sector Crime Forums. The aim is to give updates on the crime in the area, get information from other sectors, appeal for help plus  give support. Alan, our Richmond Hill chairman attends and delivers a report on our neighbourhood. We will add his reports to this section so that you can see how our Richmond Hill sector is shaping.

 May 2012

RICHMOND HILL SECTOR CRIME FORUM REPORT

Crime stats for April remained constantly low. Police visibility has been good and often I notice members in un-marked cars looking around. Most of the incidents were reported although I was aware of incidents taking place near the exits that were not reported, mainly cell phones and handbags.

Response from shift vehicles has been good, within the 13 minute time frame that is. There does seem to be a problem at 10111 though with complaints being phoned in but not being transferred from the receiver to the dispatcher. It is a problem but I don’t feel like noting times and complaining every 5 minutes. Sometimes it works well and sometimes not, we then just improvise in the situation and do what we can.

Word has it that the Mermaids building in Russell Rd is due to come down soon, current residents are going to be looking for new lodgings so we need to be on the look-out for any invasions. Temp shelters were broken down in the graveyard by Col. Benjamin and Capt Ackerman. There seems to be a small settlement developing on the Albany Rd side, near Voltex. Maybe someone could be tasked to look into that?

i.Patrol did 2285 for the month, averaging 76km p/day. i.Patrol has again been effective in dealing with community issues. Home-less bodies vs residents often an issue; here i.Patrol plays a de-fusing intermediary role, normally with a positive result. Unfortunately there are no systems in place to deal with these types of issues so we have to take care of them the best we can.

i.Patrol received complaints irt car-guards mis-behaving in the Stanley/St Phillips St area – had a meeting with all suspected and have had no further complaints. These car-guards are of no use what so ever to the residential component. What would be the implications of having a “No car guard’ area? i.e., we don’t allow any car-guards in our area at all, is that possible?

Tulla St

This is more of a municipal problem than anything else but still the owner has been reluctant to commit to anything irt bricking the place up, we will be doing it ourselves this month as we would like to put this topic to rest now.

Graveyard

Also, after months of asking the powers that be to secure this site, the systems don’t seem to be able to get the message from those that receive it to those that carry out the tasks. We also intend getting this one sorted out this month.

Special Ratings Area

Richmond Hill is the in the process of applying for a Special Ratings Area Status, the first in the Eastern Cape. Being the prototype we are continually hitting cross-roads but as a wise man once told me, ‘when you come to a fork in the road, best you take it’ and so our journeys is on going. Still a long way away as this takes educating and ‘mind-set’ shifting, the municipality is not on the top 10 list of favourites right now.

Regarding the use of the i.Patrol vehicle by other areas

This topic has been discussed with Williams Hunt, the Insurance Co and the community and due to implications of an administrative nature we are unable to accommodate that particular request. I am however willing to assist where I can and am also willing to help out at given times if need be.

One point I would like to make clear though is that for a project of this nature to be successful it needs to be consistent. It’s taken us 4 years to develop into what we are today, that, cannot be brought about in an area overnight, or by driving through it for an hour or two. This type of neighbourhood watching takes lots of man hours in getting to know what goes on and who is doing what in a prescribed area. One has to develop relationships and then know how to deal with them accordingly.  Each area also has its own set of dynamics to deal with and neighbourhood watches need to develop from with-in.

Thanks for your support in making Richmond Hill a safe place to be.

Regards

Alan Mounter (Chairperson)

April 2012

RICHMOND HILL SECTOR CRIME FORUM REPORT 

All through March figures for reported crime remained low. There were sporadic incidents of un-reported crime and we are educating the public on the importance of reporting crime.

The derelict building in Tulla St and the St Patrick’s area has been problematic with ‘night workers’ and their followers causing a disturbance. Muggings have also been noted and related to the same group of people. I have made contact with the owner, a Mr. Tozamile Botha, in JHB but he seems reluctant to part with any cash to brick the building up so we are working on a plan to do it ourselves as this seems to be the only way out. The building is a problem and needs attention soonest.

Thanks to Col Benjamin and Capt Ackerman for locating the owners of the other building that was being invaded in St Patrick’s Road. Rooms were even being rented out there.

Two incidents took place in our area where residents were advised to open cases of theft. In one case goods were recovered and an investigation opened; the other a suspect was arrested and positively identified as the suspect, and he confessed to selling the goods to a Nigerian in Central.

i.Patrol did 2568 km in March, averaging 83km p/day. Went for its 15 000km service.

Visibility is still high and its presence is being felt. This vehicle does make a difference within a community and is much appreciated by the residents.

Richmond Hill sends greetings to All.