Parow Community Police Forum (CPF) has welcomed the appointment of a new police chief but says the precinct is still dogged by staff shortages and isn’t out of the woods yet.
CPF chairman Roger Cannon said the forum’s executive committee had met with the new station commander, Colonel Teboho Jacob, on Tuesday January 16, to discuss challenges at the station and in the precinct (“New chiefs at cop shops”, Wednesday January 17).
“There is a considerable lack of human resources across the board at the station,” said Mr Cannon.
“Factors such as retirement, transfers and internal investigations into corrupt police officials are some of the reasons for the shortage. Basically when police officers have left the station for various reasons, they have never been replaced.”
He had written to three of the Tygerberg SAPS cluster commanders about the staff shortages. “They are aware of the shortages but nothing is being done,” Mr Cannon said.
Colonel Jacobs has vowed to jack up service and tackle problems at the police station.
In a letter sent to the Northern News last week, Colonel Jacobs reiterated his commitment to fighting crime and appealed to the community to complain to his office first before taking grievances higher up the chain of command.
“Our commitment still stands. We still desire to serve all residents of Parow,” he said.
Mr Cannon said the forum’s goal for 2018 was to change the negative perception people had of the Parow police station.
“This year, is about setting realistic goals, and we look forward to working with Colonel Jacobs and his team to improve and introduce new crime strategies.”
* Mr Cannon said the CPF had noticed an increase in the number of homeless people in the area.
“We think this has to do with the increase of criminals living within the homeless groupings. Over the last two months, we have seen the groupings increase from 10 to 30 people. On the other hand, Parow police recorded a slight dip in crime over the festive season due to an increase in visible policing in the precinct.”
* School pupils and students walking in the streets with their earphones and cellphones exposed are putting themselves at risk of being mugged, warned Mr Cannon.
* The CPF will hold its first public meeting of the year at Northlink College in Plattekloof, on Tuesday February 13, at 7pm.