Policing oversight to be bolstered with regular crime stats and SAPS inspections

Statement by Dan Plato, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety

The final set of regulations pertaining to the Western Cape Community Safety Act (CSA), Act 3 of 2013 has been published in the Provincial Gazette (Provincial Gazette 7547) on 11 December 2015 for public comment, and once finalised will the see the full implementation of the Community Safety Act.

The regulations have been implemented on a section by section basis to ensure sufficient capacity is created and to allow sufficient time for the regulations to be carefully considered and drafted.The draft regulations open for public comment until 15 February 2016 makes provision for the:

• Monitoring, oversight and assessment of policing;
• Accreditation and the support of Neighbourhood Watches (NHWs);
• Database and partnerships with community organisations (including security service providers); and
• Regular reporting on crime statistics by the Provincial Commissioner and the Executive Head of the Municipal Police.

With the full implementation of the Western Cape Community Safety Actwe can help increase safety in the province through targeted interventions based on sound information and operations driven by the entire safety fraternity.

The Western Cape Community Safety Act develops and introduces the necessary provincial oversight models to help ensure a quality policing service is provided to the people of the Western Cape and to help promote a good relationship between the police and communities.

The regulations pertaining to Section 4(1) of the act allow the Department of Community Safety to monitor and evaluate the allocation, distribution and use of the various policing resources in the province as well as inspect police stations. Where the Department has been enjoying the cooperative nature of the SAPS to date in respect of this information and monitoring on request, the formalisation through these regulations will ensure a streamlined approach to our oversight mandate.

The accreditation and professionalization of the NHWs in the province through the regulations will help standardise the activities of, reporting by, and support to the dedicated volunteers who constitute our Neighbourhood Watches and who selflessly stand in service of their communities to help make them safer through visible crime prevention activities.

The regular reporting of crime statistics by the Provincial Commissioner could see crime stats being better used to inform the public of safety risks in their communities and empower strategic action from the entire safety fraternity. The availability of more regular crime stats can also enable the law enforcement entities to speed up their resource responses to crime and empower communities, safety structures and government to adapt with quicker responses as well.

Through constructive comments on the published draft regulations, the Department of Community Safety can ensure that the vital safety services, available to the public is standardised, structured and supported by the Department of Community Safety to help ensure quality policing services is provided to all the people in the Western Cape.

Any submissions on the regulations can be sent, before 15 February 2016, for attention: Adv JC Gerber SC, by

• Posting it to:
  The Director
  Department of Community Safety
  Directorate: Monitoring & Evaluation
  PO Box 5346
  Cape Town
  8000
   
• Delivering it to:
  The office of the Head of the Department of Community Safety
  4th Floor
  35 Wale Street
  Cape Town
  8001
   
• Faxing it to:
  Fax no: 086 531 4283; or
   
• E-mailing it to:
  jan.gerber@westerncape.gov.za