Claremont police station is slightly more than 50% compliant in key performance areas, according to the local police chief.
The Claremont police met with Har-Lyn Neighbourhood Watch, the community police forum, the ward councillor and the public last Wednesday for an “imbizo” to discuss crime in the area.
Service levels, bomb scares, business robberies and the protocol to report someone missing were some of the issues discussed.
Station commander Colonel Maree Louw told the meeting the station had scored 52.7% compliance for 2016/2017 in a management assessment of 270 stations countrywide. The average national compliance was 78%, and Colonel Louw conceded the Claremont needed to score higher to be effective.
Thirty stations in each province recording the highest frequencies of 17 serious crimes were chosen for the assessment by national police management. It looked at officers’ performance in various categories, including visible policing, detective services, community satisfaction, crime and management information, and systems utilisation and data integrity.
Colonel Louw said she wanted the station to have an 80% compliance rating and they would focus on improving service, training and police visibility in high-crime areas, among other things.
Answering a question from the public about clinical psychologist Diane Nelson, who went missing and was later found dead (“Body of missing woman found,” Tatler, July 5), Sergeant Lutchmee Chetty said there was no waiting period to report a missing person.
The person filing the report should provide a photo if possible and fill out a SAPS 55 form at the charge office.
An officer dealing with missing persons cases could be contacted 24/7 at 082 850 9703 or Constable Sobantu Nkonki could be contacted at 079 894 1563.
“The immediate response from SAPS can save a life,” said Sergeant Chetty.
There have been several business robberies and bomb scares in the precinct since the last imbizo was held on Wednesday April 11, and Colonel Louw said criminals were getting smarter and more tech-savvy.
Colonel Louw said there were no further leads in recent bomb scares at Kenilworth Centre and Wynberg schools, but the Hawks were investigating whether a man arrested in June could be connected to any of them.
Those receiving a bomb threat should stay alert and get as much information as possible to pass on to the police.
Robberies, house robberies, firearm robberies, burglaries, thefts from vehicles remain problem crimes in Sectors 1 and 4, and Colonel Louw urged the public to make sure their cars were locked and stow valuables out of sight.
Colonel Louw warned firearm owners to remember to renew their gun licences.
Residents can report crimes to 10111 or to the station at 021 657 2243.