The City of Cape Town’s first batch of volunteer auxiliary law enforcement officers have started patrolling.
|||Cape Town -
Sixteen volunteer auxiliary law enforcement officers had their first taste of life on the streets as they started patrolling in Athlone last week.
The auxiliaries are the first batch of officers dispatched by the City of Cape Town. Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said they aimed to have 800 auxiliary officers in the near future.
“This is a significant milestone in our commitment to being a safe and caring city, but it’s only the beginning. We hope to grow our volunteer law enforcement component to 400 in the next two years to augment our policing efforts across the metropole, benefiting all of Cape Town’s residents.”
Smith said it had been a “very painful” three-year journey but they were pleased the city council had finally approved the auxiliary officers, or Specials.
The Specials had undergone training on the Criminal Procedure Act, human rights and other aspects of their duties at the Metro Police College in Observatory after hours and over weekends last year.
“For you this is a passion, you are passionate about this because you care and you will set high standards… and that’s what we want, quality members,” Smith told the Specials.
He added that they were a much-needed addition to the force since residents constantly complained about high crime in their areas.
“Communities are crying, we need this now. People are desperate to see uniforms in their communities.”
The Specials received the same training as full-time law enforcement officers and will be trained in the use of firearms once they have been declared competent.
Simon Bungane from Crossroads said he was happy to be starting as a Special and said he had joined the force because he wanted to help curb crime.
“I am happy that the city organised this and I am happier to be a part of it. There is a lot of crime here (Cape Town) and I am glad that I will be able to help lessen the crime, especially in my community.”
Bungane, a mechanic, said he would now be able to educate people about the laws and city by-laws.
Constantia resident Sean Murray said he joined the Specials because “it is something that is needed in our area”.
“The course was informative and I learnt how we can stop crime before it gets bigger. To stop crime we need to have the police and the community involved and when that connection is made it can be one of the best things in the world.”
yolisa.tswanya@inl.co.za
Cape Argus