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Project Stay Alert unites the police and other stakeholders, including business and the public, in the fight against crime.
POLICE, business owners and communities have joined forces to fight crime through Project Stay Alert.
Spearheaded by the communications department in the Johannesburg central cluster police stations, the aim of Project Stay Alert is to establish partnerships and open communications between the South African Police Service (SAPS), other law enforcement agencies, businesses and communities in the city.
Booysens, Brixton, Fairland, Johannesburg Central, Langlaagte, Mondeor and Sophiatown police stations make up the central cluster. The project was launched on National Police Day on Monday, 19 January.
According to John Maluleke, the spokesperson at Johannesburg Central Police Station and the Stay Alert project manager, the campaign is aimed at enhancing communication between the public and the police, to complement other crime combating initiatives such as Operation Trio.
Operation Trio targets house breaking, business robbery and car hijacking.
Faith
"We have realised that the public does not have faith in the police. Through this project we want to communicate the success [in fighting] business robbery and other crimes so that people will have the courage to report any criminal activity," he says.
"With reporting any crime we will make sure that the case is followed through till the end and the complainant receives any kind of help in terms of testifying and counselling."
He says the police wants its partners to learn how to share information with law enforces and how to remain safe by always being two steps ahead of criminals.
"We know that as the police we cannot give services such as counselling and court preparation. That is why we are in partnership with organisations such as the National Prosecution Authority [NPA] and Ikhaya Lethemba. The NPA helps victims or witnesses of criminal activity on what or how they can give evidence that will lead to the arrest of the criminal. Ikhaya Lethemba provides them with counselling and support groups."
He added that local law enforcement such as the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) deploys human logistic resources to support the SAPS in stop and search operations. In a reciprocal partnership, the SAPS provides support to JMPD on major roadblocks operations.
JMPD’s spokesperson Edna Mamonyane says the City’s metro police have a good relationship with the cluster police stations. “We work well with them especially in the south and central region. For example we have qualified staff from JMPD working in Booysens police station,” says Mamonyane.
Outreach
Maluleke explains that Stay Alert will take exhibitions and lectures to shopping malls.
"We want to visit these places because we know that a lot of people like going there and because there is a high level of business robbery at shopping malls. This will give all our partners a chance to inform the public about their services and for them to make suggestions through a suggestion box on how they want to work."
Communities can participate through any crime prevention campaigns taking place. "Communities should be encouraged to act against crime in whatever way."
Dates for exhibitions and talks will be announced soon. People who want to be part of Project Stay Alert can call 011 497 7281 / 7000.
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