Update

It has been quite some time since I last posted a blog on our website and I hope you can forgive me for that. I have been very busy at the station and on the ground with the community.We have our old Vispol head back,Lt Col Lento, and I for one could not be happier. This means that Col Williams can continue running the station without having to be split in two having to micro manage every detail.

I arrested one car theif at the mall last Monday and upon hearing that he had an accomplice I radioed for back up which I got from Dan from the Winery Rd crime forum. This led to the the other suspect being arrested on the R44 near the N2 bridge after being cornered by Dan and myself. The initial credit must go to the car guard that spotted the suspect in the first place. He started shouting and tried to pull the guy out of the car. The suspect then fled but did not see me coming from the other direction. A big thank you must also go to the mall security that gave us all the co-operation needed.

I then invited some members from the Neighbourhood Watches to join the Police on an operation which was held last Friday from 12:00 till 20:00. This proved to be highly successful and also led to two arrests, after Dan received a call from a farmer who had spotted the suspects stealing cables. What followed was a wild chase by the watch members and it proved how valuable the radioes are.

On Wednesday I accompanied the Police on a school raid with the dog unit which was also insightful as this gives us ideas what projects to get involved in and how to be involved in the best way.

I have been involved in countless other operations with the Police like drug raids and so on and one can see what these guys are up against on a daily basis.

Besides the countless meetings I have to attend, my dream is finally coming to fruition.Almost two and a half years ago I decided to patrol and scream at the top of my lungs at people to get involved and start looking after themselves. I have been lucky to have met and surrounded myself with very passionate people along the way and the network is getting bigger on a daily basis.

As you all know, I still have my detractors and even people from our own organisations try and undermine us. To them, all I have to say is shame on you. If the community is involved and is looking after itself and taking control then that is exactly what I wanted from the beginning. I have been begging for the community to look after themselves and make themselves heard and we still have people jumping on the band wagon trying to lay claim to this intiative for their own advancement. What a shame.

Thank you to all that donated goods for the operation and so many other initiatives, we appreciate it beyond belief and the people on the receiving end find this kind of help invaluable.

Till next time,stay safe.

Andrew