What is the COMMUNITY POLICE FORUM and what does it do?
You’ve probably heard the words ‘Community Police Forum’ on the radio or read them in the newspaper and wondered what a Community Police Forum or CPF is. Whether there is one in Simon’s Town or Glencairn, what does it do and does it affect me?
Community Police Forum seems a bit ‘far from my bed’. It doesn’t have anything to do with me does it?
This is the official definition of a Community Police Forum (CPF).
A Community Policing Forum (CPF) means a forum established in terms of section 19(1) of the SAPS Act 68 of 1995. A CPF is a group of people from different communities and police representatives who meet to discuss safety problems in their communities. A CPF also aims at ensuring police accountability, transparency and effectiveness in the community.
So what does that effectively mean?
It means that the CPF:
We would welcome all community based organisations and interested individuals from the community, including representatives of all the groupings within the community, i.e. religious groups, youth groups, political groups, sports clubs, schools and taxi associations to become part of the CPF.
Also if you are not part of any group or organization you also have a right to be included.
Also important is that the police are well represented i.e. Head of Detective Unit, Child Unit, etc. The Station Commissioner should always be available at CPF meetings.
Community Police Forum seems a bit ‘far from my bed’. It doesn’t have anything to do with me does it?
This is the official definition of a Community Police Forum (CPF).
A Community Policing Forum (CPF) means a forum established in terms of section 19(1) of the SAPS Act 68 of 1995. A CPF is a group of people from different communities and police representatives who meet to discuss safety problems in their communities. A CPF also aims at ensuring police accountability, transparency and effectiveness in the community.
So what does that effectively mean?
It means that the CPF:
- Promotes the accountability of the local police to the community and co-operation of the community with the local police.
- Monitors the effectiveness and efficiency of the police serving you;
- Evaluates the provision of services such as:
- Distribution of resources at the police station;
- The way complaints and charges are handled;.
- Patrolling of residential and business areas;
- Keeping records, writing reports and making recommendations to the
Station Commissioners, the Provincial Commissioner and the MEC. - The CPF will ask questions about local policing matters and request
enquiries when necessary.
- Distribution of resources at the police station;
We would welcome all community based organisations and interested individuals from the community, including representatives of all the groupings within the community, i.e. religious groups, youth groups, political groups, sports clubs, schools and taxi associations to become part of the CPF.
Also if you are not part of any group or organization you also have a right to be included.
Also important is that the police are well represented i.e. Head of Detective Unit, Child Unit, etc. The Station Commissioner should always be available at CPF meetings.