MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Western Cape Community Safety Department recently released the 2016/17 Provincial Policing Needs and Priorities (PNP) report, regarded as the most comprehensive representation of the province's overall policing needs and priorities the department has produced to date.
The report is the result of workshops held for the Da Gamaskop Policing Cluster on 13 and 14 July 2016.
It details the daily challenges faced by local police, among which is the vastness of the area they serve.
The Da Gamaskop Police Cluster is responsible for a population of 388 000 and consists of 11 police precincts. Those of the 11 that fall within the Mossel Bay municipal area are: the Da Gamaskop Police Station (27 225 residents), Great Brak River (20 140), KwaNonqaba (33 641), and Mossel Bay (10 602).
Police in the Da Gamaskop cluster, which spans from Swellendam to Barrydale and ultimately Great Brak River, serve 1 860 farms in total. Approximately half of the 25 informal settlements in this cluster are in Mossel Bay.
Different approach
While it is stressed the PNP determination process for 2016/17 provided the platform where everyone's voice in the province could be heard, it was nevertheless announced that the 2017/18 PNP would concentrate on only the Saldanha Bay, Nyanga/Gugulethu, Paarl East and Khayelitsha precincts.
While 90% of respondents said the police in their areas had the skills to carry out their policing functions, only 47% of the respondents thought the police had sufficient physical resources to serve their community.
The current report lists several shortcomings at local police station level, among others insufficient office accommodation at the KwaNonqaba Police Station, where the lack of police holding cells was also highlighted.
These problems have repeatedly been noted by the department in the past. The other shortcoming listed is a lack of a storage facility, a problem all police stations are experiencing. The high mileage of existing vehicles is also said to impede service delivery, as is the shortage of sufficient vehicles to serve the vast area.
This is a summary of Western Cape residents' views, set out in the 2016/17 PNP report:
Professional policing
- 66% of respondents have confidence in the police;
- 63% do not think the police in their area are corrupt;
- 73% believe the police treat the community with courtesy and respect;
- 72% believe the police have the necessary skills to carry out their duties; but
- Only 38% believe the police have sufficient physical resources to do their job.
Perceptions of safety
- Only 35% felt safe on the streets at night compared to 58% feeling safe during the day;
- Only 27% felt safe in open spaces and recreational areas at night and only 53% felt safe in these spaces during the day;
- Only 50% feel safe using public transport during the day and only 25% feel safe travelling on public transport at night;
- Only 39% feel safe at public transportation hubs during the day and even less, 29%, feel safe at these hubs at night.
Safety role-players and partnerships
- 84% believe Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) groups contribute most to safety in communities;
- 65% believe SAPS reservists contribute to safety; and
- 68% agreed Community Policing Forums (CPFs) hold the police accountable to communities.
The analysis of the 2016/17 PNP inputs show the key safety needs, concerns and priorities across the province for:
- Resources: shortage of human resources, insufficient police vehicles, problems with necessary upgrades of police stations, need for improvement of training of SAPS members, and the unreliability of services such as the 10111 number;
- Lack of visible policing,
- Gangsterism, drugs and alcohol abuse are wreaking havoc in our communities; and
- Sexual violence and domestic violence;
- School safety and vandalism.
Open public spaces
The report lists problems experienced with public open spaces.
- Persistent problems with poor street lighting, illegal structures, bushy areas and the safety of parks and public toilets remain a concern.
- Threats to safety at parks and public toilets as well as public transport hubs;
- Threats to safety due to illegal structures and empty buildings;
- The link between interpersonal violence and alcohol abuse, and the proliferation of unlicensed liquor outlets;
The report indicated the Western Cape government should improve its internal partnerships between departments, improve partnerships with the municipality and national government, and build on the existing partnerships between communities, government, the religious fraternity and safety partners such as neighbourhood watches and community policing forums (CPFs).
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