VISIBLE POLICING PROPOSAL SECTOR POLICING / VISIBLE POLICING PRESENTATION TO ALEXANDRA COMMUNITY POLICE FORUM Alexandra Police Station Wednesday 24 July 2002

VISIBLE POLICING 1.BACKGROUND Community Policing Meadowdale / Bedfordview have sustained sector policing, or visible policing as it is known, since 1999 with remarkable results. Within three months of introducing sector policing, crime in Bedfordview was reduced by 35,4%. It is now the best police station (in crime reduction terms) in Eastern Gauteng, which is the most effective area in Gauteng. We have a growing partnership programme raising well over R a month. This model deploys six BMWs, with one in reserve, patrolling 5 sectors, 12 hours a day, every day of the week (see Blueprint for Policing and Sector Policing Press Kit). PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING

VISIBLE POLICING 2.OBJECTIVES To apply the Bedfordview visible policing model to one other select police station as a first step in a pilot project to evaluate police service delivery against stated objectives over a six month period. This will be done in Gauteng where over 50% of SA crime is committed and within the following parameters: PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING

VISIBLE POLICING 3.PARAMETERS  It should utilise the strong SAPS and business relationships  It should be affordable for businesses  It should not seek to provide any hard assets that rightfully should be paid for by the State  It should have the ability to roll out countrywide and be self sustaining  It should encompass visible policing and real community involvement  It should have as its goal measurable crime reduction PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING

VISIBLE POLICING 4.COMMUNITY POLICE PARTNERSHIP It is essential that community structures are involved in this police service delivery process. It is the community, through its elected CPF Chairman working closely with the Station Commissioner as equal partners, that crime patterns must be tackled and reduced. Businesses to finance community administrative person and office to monitor and evaluate service delivery at the police station. PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING

VISIBLE POLICING PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING

VISIBLE POLICING 6.VISIBLE POLICING MODEL Based on tried and tested policies we are looking at one police station. The criteria are :  Presidential Police Station (more than adequate resources, vehicles, equipment and manpower) (Alexandra in Gauteng).  A police station with good leadership and strong commitment to reduce crime.  A CPF leader who fully represents the community and who can work closely with the Police Commissioner without undue interference, as a partner in community policing.  Specifically the pilot project will introduce the sector policing model to all sectors of each police precinct. PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING

VISIBLE POLICING PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING 6.VISIBLE POLICING MODEL (continued)  The pilot police station’s area is divided into 6 sectors, therefore 6 vehicles are required.  Each vehicle is to be fitted with standard police equipment, and satellite tracking devices, to monitor the whereabouts of police vehicles. Radios* are to be fitted for rapid response, as police radio networks are overloaded and response is slow.  Community base office fully equipped with computer, fax machine, printer, copier, telephone, furniture, stationery, etc, and security burglar proofing on door & windows. * depending on budget

VISIBLE POLICING 6.VISIBLE POLICING MODEL (continued)  Suitable, computer literate, clerical and administrative personnel are to be hired to work under the CPF Chairman, with dotted line responsibility to the Station Commissioner and senior police officers at the police station. They will work specifically with the Crime Prevention Unit commander on visible policing and will work closely with sector policing teams and the service centre. Personnel are to be hired on a contract basis for the duration of the pilot project. PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING

VISIBLE POLICING 7.FINANCIAL PLAN Based on the principle that the visible policing model will be adapted at one Presidential station or a police station with adequate resources in the first instance, businesses would not have to fund police vehicles or office equipment to run a community base office. Assuming the community is allocated an office – we would probably have to provide this office with office equipment, furniture and stationery in order to remain independent and therefore properly evaluate and monitor the police service delivery. PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING

VISIBLE POLICING 7.FINANCIAL PLAN (continued) The estimated cost to run the project for 6 months would be R including national CPF offices. Please see the draft budget. A community base station could cost as little as R9 000 per month depending on the needs and resources of the community. PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING

VISIBLE POLICING PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING 7.FINANCIAL PLAN (continued) From the experience we have acquired in providing a visible police presence to the community, there is no lack of funding (no donor fatigue) provided the police in their patrol vehicles are visible to the public (this process is carefully monitored by community paid officials) giving the perception that crime is coming down. The community, through this structure and partnership, help manage and deploy resources efficiently as a partner to SAPS. The community feel that their environment is safer. The model is sustainable and self perpetuating as the community begin to trust the police – credibility and respect is restored as crime is reduced.

VISIBLE POLICING 8.STRATEGIC PLAN As a supplement to the SAPS 2002 – 2003 Strategic Plan, a programme identifying major crime trends, in collaboration with a community representative, is to be listed. A crime reduction plan of not less than 20% over and above the crime reduction targets already proposed is to be implemented at the police station in this pilot project. PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING

VISIBLE POLICING PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING 9. SERVICE DELIVERY The visible policing/sector policing to be included as a major community programme, incorporating all BAC partnership product components. Only through professional and properly managed visible policing, incorporating three basic elements, can service delivery in all its forms be properly implemented. These three elements are:

VISIBLE POLICING (i) sector vehicle patrols PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING (iii) weekly newsletter for communicating between the community and police. (ii)community office at police station

VISIBLE POLICING PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING 10.ROLL OUT 10.1Meadowdale Sector visible policing implemented 1999 crime down 7½% whilst surrounding areas escalates ± %. 10.2Bedfordview Police Station 35% crime reduction within 3 months of visible policing being introduced Police Station in Gauteng area in pilot project to test model with firm crime reduction targets in 6 months - Dec 2002.

VISIBLE POLICING PROPOSAL –VISIBLE POLICING 10.ROLL OUT (continued) 10.4In addition to this top down Government approach, there is tremendous potential to spread this model across communities in Gauteng, supported by local business. -a professional approach incorporating the experiences of the Meadowdale sector and Bedfordview Police Station’s visible policing model is underway. -a video and step-by-step guide to support establishing community and SAPS partnership is underway.

VISIBLE POLICING SERVICE DELIVERY DRAFT BUDGET

VISIBLE POLICING