As his first 100 days in office enters its final month, Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Reagen Allen, continues to prioritise patrols with Neighbourhood Watches (NHW’s) throughout the province. In a bid to drive a holistic approach to crime prevention – which has become a key focus area for the Minister, - these patrols include members from Community Police Forums (CPF’s), SAPS, Law Enforcement and in some instances private security firms.

To date, Minister Allen has embarked on patrols with NHW’s from:

Salt River, Observatory, Woodstock, Victoria Park, Lorencia Park, Helderzicht, Figrove, Macassar, (Greater Somerset West), Leonsdale, Avonwood, Salbrau, Norwood, Ruyterwacht, Matroosfontein, (Greater Elsiesriver), Tafelsig, Hyde Park, Beach Craft Block (Mitchells Plain), Heideveld, Watchful Eye, Brothers for Justice, Cathkin, WBF, Allison Court Watch, Duinefontein, Silverstream, Letaba (Heideveld and Manenberg), Bridgetown, Silvertown, Belgravia, Crawford, (all Athlone) and Sizisukhanyo (Khayelitsha).

In non-Metro areas, he has walked with the NHW’s from Bosmanadama, Voordorp and Hillrest, all from Wellington, Extension 13 and Albert Luthuli from Mossel Bay and Vredenburg on the West Coast.

Minister Allen said: “These and all other patrols that will follow within the next 30 days, are part of my commitment to walk with at least 30 neighbourhood watches within my first 100 days. Although I have already patrolled with more than 30 neighbourhood watches and other safety structures, I am looking forward to taking to the streets with a lot more over the coming weeks. I’m in the process of finalising visits to more non-Metro Districts.”

“I am extremely proud of and grateful to the brave men and women who freely offer up their time to ensure their communities are safer for everyone. With Eskom’s continued load shedding, which is further eroding safety for so many citizens, these volunteers have to be commended for not wavering in their commitment to being added eyes and ears in their communities. The patrols are showing how the provincial and local spheres of government, the volunteer structures and law enforcement are all working together to achieve greater safety. The only way we’ll ever be effective in combatting crime is to be united in achieving this goal, and I am committed to driving this,” concluded Minister Allen.

Source: Government of South Africa