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Welcome to the Community Policing Forum website of Verulam (CPF-Verulam). The purpose of this website is to impart important information to the residents of Verulam about crime, the key role players in the fight against crime and how you can contribute to making the area safer.
Crime instils fear into the hearts of South Africans from all walks of life. It restricts us from taking our rightful places in the development and growth of our country, from our ambitions. It discourages our citizens from communicating and associating with one another freely. Crime affects the quality of life of every South African.
But the most damaging part is that it puts a huge doubt in the minds of investors and prevents entrepreneurs from taking full advantage of the opportunities which our country offers. It is also a huge barrier to tourism as the perception of the country oversees is frightening.
Many people believe that it is only through action by the police and the courts that crime in our communities will be reduced. This is usually seen as the ‘tough, no-nonsense’ approach resulting in punishment to deter offenders from committing crime again. But it is equally important to stop people from committing crime in the first place. Prevention, often seen as the ‘soft’ approach, saves the government vast amounts of money. It also lessens the impact of crime on victims, as well as the destructive effects of imprisonment, particularly on young offenders and petty offenders. It improves the quality of life in communities which, in the long term, helps create a safer environment.
Yusuf Abramjee, from Crime Line, words it brilliantly “Stand up, do what is right and make a difference,” he said, adding that South Africans should stop allowing “petty finger pointing” to get in the way of the fight against crime. “Forget black and white, forget rich and poor, forget about being politically correct. Whenever wrong is done, we must be able to criticise and challenge. If the crime problem is not solved, we are heading for disaster.”
Think about our kids. Do we want to leave them with a crime infested country or do we want to leave them a country in which they can flourish?
Form a CPF for your area or join if it is already established. You will feel much safer and you will also be making a huge contribution in the fight against crime. Areas which have active CPF’s have much lower crime rates. Forming and joining a CPF is absolutely free of charge.
To see the status of your area CPF refer to the map under CPF Structure. You can check whether your area is represented on the CPF or not.
It is pointless criticizing the police and complaining to family, friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues about crime. The government has established a framework to address community participation in the fight against crime. Use it.
Once again, forming and joining a CPF is absolutely free, and will make you feel safer in this crime infested country.
Wishing everyone the very best of luck!
Your CPF Team