Safety & security

Safety & Security

SCOPE AND OVERVIEW

The WPRA Safety and Security Officer will steer and drive the Safety and Security Focus Group in line with the objectives of WPRA as set out in its Memorandum of Incorporation. (“MOI”).

The Safety and Security Officer will be responsible to engage with members of the Business forum and engage with communities to ensure that all matters raised are dealt with in a professional and timely manner.

The Safety and Security Officer must liaise with other EXCO officers on Safety and Security matters that impact other Focus Groups within WPRA and setup the necessary discussion forums to find common ground and to initiate resolution of these matters. (e.g., streetlights affecting Service Delivery.

Report back to the Board of Directors on any key issues requiring immediate intervention by WPRA on behalf of its members.

The Safety and Security Officer will endeavour to build and strengthen relationships with the relevant officials dealing with:

  • Vacant land being used as escape routes or hideouts for criminals.
  • Streetlights not working.
  • Highjacked properties housing potential criminals.
  • Illegal traders in Wierda Park.
  • Illicit sale of alcohol and drugs in the community.
  • Homeless vagrants and beggars in the Business Centre.
  • Any issue which poses a threat to the Safety, Welfare and Security of the residents of Wierda Park and its extensions.

The Focus Group Officer must ensure that projects undertaken are approved by the Board of Directors before commencement.

  • Identify and focus on Specific current issues that are occurring in Wierda Park and related extensions.
  • Focus on the types of crimes that are occurring in Wierda Park, such as:
    • Wall Jumpers
    • Break ins.
    • Armed robberies
    • Theft of motor vehicles, including hijackings
    • Muggings
    • Tampering and theft of gate motors and CCTV Cameras and preventative action.
    • Safety of learners outside school premises.
    • General safety and Security in Wierda Park.
    • Specifics will also include the times that crimes, as stated in (2) occur.
    • Promote the collation of information from private CCTVs and devise a strategy to increase these specifically in “hot spots”.
    • Determine the location of these said crimes, i.e., are they specific or common locations.
  • Educate residents and business owners of Wierda Park on the proper and structured processes of reporting any Safety and Security issues such as:
    • Proper and descriptive details of the person/situation.
    • Proper details of address or location of incident.
    • Proper channels of reporting or calling for assistance, e.g. Security Company, Emergency WhatsApp Channel, SAPS or CPF.
  • Possible need to engage with the Wierdebrug Police Station by laying a charge in respect of the incident.
  • Focus and engagement in all extensions with regards to:
    • Neighborhood watches
    • Street Ambassadors
    • WhatsApp groups
  • Focus on the measurables such as:
    • The number of WhatsApp groups within the Wierda Park area, and ascertaining the validity of the number of groups, to eradicate duplication of emergency call outs.
    • Engaging with the admin personnel in the various WhatsApp Security groups within Wierda Park and its extensions, educating them on WPRA, to ensure information on related issues is shared on the WPRA Security Focus WhatsApp Group.
    • Ascertain what legal requirements should residents and street patrollers have in terms of Security measures to ensure that they are not working in conflict with SAPS, CPF and security companies, etc.
    • Engage with the CPF and security companies on strategies to combat the said crimes.
    • Ensure that there will be regular engagement with the security companies, service providers and the CPF to encourage visibility within the Wierda Park area and its extensions.
  • The WPRA Security Focus Group will also request the CPF to make available the statistics on the crimes committed within the Wierda Park area and its extensions and share these statistics on a formal platform.
    These statistics will, on a regular basis, be reported to the Board of Directors of the WPRA, to observe whether strategic measures implemented, are reducing crime within the areas.
  • The Safety and Security Focus Group will do regular research and investigation for the latest technology or applications which will enhance Safety and Security within the community.
    There will be no biases or favoritism shown towards any specific security company, service providers, forums nor admin groups.
  • The WPRA Security Focus Group will always ensure that there will be no slander on any forum or platform, but to increase positivity and awareness and make communities aware of what we are able to do within our auspices and control. WPRA will not recognise any body or institutions that are not properly constituted or bound by law and regulations governing the policing and security sector.

The Safety and Security Officer through its Focus group must always strive to encourage positive, respectful and orderly conduct by Members of WPRA and never support or condone violence or negative protest action.