On 29 July, the Melkbosstrand Police Station officially launched the Community in Blue (CIB) Programme which is an initiative to directly assist the Melkbosstrand Police Station by reporting any criminal activity, or suspected criminal activity to the police station.
The CIB programme is a subdivision of the Melkbosstrand Community Policing Forum (CPF), and works alongside them, and the local police station to minimise crime in the area, according to Samie Kleynhans, a member of Melkbosstrand CPF.
“[The CIB programme] is a national police initiative, and [Melkbosstrand CPF’s] understanding is that all stations, country wide, should start, or already have a functional CIB,” Kleynhans said.
The role of a CIB is a programme to assist the local police station in operations they need help with, according to Kleynhans.
It was also explained by Kleynhans that there is a difference between a CIB programme, and a local neighbourhood watch.
The responsibility of CIB programmes is more towards the police, and conduct patrols purely to report back to the police. CIB programmes are also managed by the local CPFs, who work in conjunction with police stations. “A CIB will always work under the instruction from [the local police station] and will mostly be involved in planned operations.
The station commander can also ask a CIB to do patrols, but for a specific reason,” Kleynhands said.
Neighbourhood watches on the other hand are non-profit organisations that do patrols, but work independently from the police. “They are the eyes and ears of a community and try to be visible to hopefully prevent crime,” according to Kleynhans.
“When [Melkbosstrand Police Station] wants to do an operation or crime prevention activities, they will call on CIB members to assist,” Kleynhans said.
“There is talk that the government will fund some clothing and minimum equipment, but at this stage, there is no funding.
“This is a huge problem as the local CPF has funded a few bibs, but more members are needed to get involved and we do not have enough bibs or funds for CIB members,” Kleynhans explained.
Melkbosstrand’s CIB programme currently consists of seven members, with room for many more patrollers.
“The main objective is to make Melkbosstrand a safer place for all and that is why joining hands with [the local police station] to fight crime should be the ideal platform for all Melkbosstrand residents that would like to get involved,” according to Kleynhans.
Melkbosstrand’s CIB programme operates out of the Melkbosstrand Police Station premises and can use cpf.melkbosstrand1@gmail.com for any communication.
Should any Melkbosstrand resident want to become a part of the Melkbosstrand CIB programme, they need to contact the local police station, or CPF after which they will be cleared and vetted.
