The safety of your home and business in their hands

Neighbourhood watches and community policing forums should receive more support from the public and businesses.

Members of the public often do not really appreciate what these men (and sometimes women) do to keep the public safe. Besides that, they are all volunteers.

Romano van der Spuy, chairman of the Community Policing Forum of Hartbeespoort which has received various acclaims as one of the best CPF’s in the country, works closely with the local Police every day with whom they have an excellent working relationship.

People often complain about the Police Services for not turning up on time at a crime scene or for properly investigating a case. Sometimes the public has good reason for this when police members drag their feet. But they must also take into account that there are a limited amount of police vehicles and staff available and they might be attending elsewhere, Romano says.

“This is where the neighbourhood watches and security companies play an important role. The neighbourhood watches fall under the CPF’s.

“The neighbourhood watches are the eyes and the ears of the Police. Without them the crime statistics would be out of control.

“Often members of the neighbourhood watches arrive at a crime scene – be it a home or a business – first and then alert the security companies and the Police. Neighbourhood watches also see to it that victims receive medical care and psychological counselling for trauma.

But are there still dedicated policemen?

“Definitely”, Romano says.

“Hartbeespoort boasts several policemen who are willing to workday and night for three days in a row to arrest the culprits. They often work with informants and see to it that those who commit serious crimes such as house robberies, murderers, rapists, and farm attacks end up behind bars. In many cases excellent arrests have been made.

“There have been numerous cases where arrests for murders have been made within 24 hours and arrests for house robberies within hours.”

“How can crime, which is South-Africa’s biggest problem be prevented?

“By visible policing. The Police should be seen in areas. In this regard their hands are strengthened by neighbourhood watches. In our area they patrol seven days a week for 365 days. And this makes a remarkable difference.”

As chairman of the CPF Romano’s duties are to inform the neighbourhood watches and socials groups of crime patterns in certain areas. He writes crime reports on a daily basis so that hot spots can be identified by the public.

“It is a time-consuming job and people can be quite demanding at times. They phone you day and night – even at 2 am in the morning.”

Romano says there are approximately 1 100 police stations in the country and each one has a CPF with an executive committee consisting of eight members who represent different areas.

Why do crime victims’ phone him and not the Police directly?

“I suppose they have confidence in me. In serious cases I immediately inform the security companies, the neighbourhood watches and the Police.”

Unfortunately, many areas elsewhere, do not have neighbourhood watches.

Plot and farm watches and patrols are of utmost importance. Their challenges include terrible roads, large areas and not being able to enter properties because of locked gates during a crisis.

“These people must safeguard themselves as much as possible by joining farm watches, using panic buttons and knowing their neighbours as your neighbour can save your life.

“With the exception of situations where your own life is threatened, members of neighbourhood watches, the CPF and security companies cannot make citizen’s arrests or have the same power as the Police.”

Romano is of the opinion that the larger public does not always really appreciate the work that neighbourhood watches do.

But how can neighbourhood watches be supported?

“It would certainly help if more people would make donations for expenses such as petrol and airtime. It would also help if more people became involved with neighbourhood watches.

“Neighbourhood watches are angels sent from heaven to protect citizens. People are not really aware of the fact that we are all volunteers.”

Romano says that most of the neighbourhood watch members are men over the age of 50 but they also have young members.

Who is the oldest man patrolling our streets at night?

“I suppose it’s me”, he laughingly says. “I will be 74 in October.”