The CBD and lower Oakdale remain the areas with the most crime in Bellville, residents heard at the annual general meeting (AGM) held by the Bellville Community Police Forum (BCPF) recently.
The meeting saw the police and the BCPF’s chair Sean McCLeland discussing crime trends, with the most recent crime statistics informing these talks.
McCleland also discussed the BCPF’s safety plan, which was signed by Brig Phindiwe Ntungele, station commander.
Crime statistics
The crime statistics, reflecting crimes committed during October to December 2022, were released in February this year.
As in previous years, Bellville is one of the top 30 police stations nationwide in a few categories, like the highest number of theft out of motor vehicles (14th place, with 194 incidents), other serious crime (14th place, with 566 incidents) and commercial crime (16th, with 195 incidents).
There are many reasons for the rise: more vagrants live in the area and drug usage is flourishing.
McCLeland said as a CPF they are committed to keeping the police to task and shared a community safety plan which sets out concerns and ideas on how to continue partnership policing.
This document also sets out crimes in the area that need priority focus and sets out a strategy on how all roleplayers can help improve these areas.
They include sexual offences, common robbery, residential burglary and all categories of assault.
McCleland said in many of these cases the crimes are committed because of drugs and by alleviating this problem, less crime will take place.
Voortrekker Road is a corridor for illegal substances and drugs, he says, with several clubs in Voortrekker Road contributing to an increase in sexual assault.
The influx of homeless people has also contributed to a rise in crime, he said.
“Some (homeless people) are a threat and some aren’t,” he said.
McCleland also shared ideas to improve support given to victims of sexual and domestic assault.
For one, they want to create a hotline where support will be provided and callers can remain anonymous.
When asked whether she would like to add something to the comments made during the evening, Ntungele, said residents should keep the judicial system in mind.
Often, when criminals are arrested for petty crime, the court throws out the case and they are back on the streets in no time. Some of them even know the names of the cooks at the holding cells.
She said this would however not deter the officers at her station.
