MOSSEL BAY NEWS - September is Police Safety Month and the KwaNonqaba Police urge the community
to continue to work with, and respect, not only the police, but other law enforcement authorities and emergency medical services (EMS).

KwaNonqaba Police Station spokesperson Warrant Officer Kappie Kapp says EMS and police are here to render a service to the public and if they are attacked, it not only "dismantles the trust between them and
the community, it takes an essential service member out of operation".

He says that if a police officer is injured, it causes a ripple effect.

"One less hand means service delivery to the community is affected. We want the public to be proud of the police, to work with them and have a good relationship with them," says Kapp.

"EMS, Community Policing Forum members, neighbourhood watches, municipal law enforcement and traffic officials are an extended hand of the police, so an attack on them is like an attack on us and will not be tolerated."

Kapp says there were incidents last year when EMS workers were attacked in KwaNonqaba.

"It became a challenge, so police had to start escorting the service members to theircall-outs. This affected service delivery. We ran campaigns in the community following the attacks and since then, there haven't been any more."

He adds that it is important for the community to know the police are open and transparent and have a system called "Rate our Service" and that there are posters in every station's Community Service Centre
with a QR code which people can scan and then rate the service they received from the police.

"We urge people to make use of this. Also, we want to better ourselves wherever we can," he said.

"Our message is clear: our members should be protected, respected and trusted," he said.

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