GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Neighbourhood watch members in the Southern Cape will soon be sporting a brand new look.
On Monday 19 August, the minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, launched the new neighbourhood watch branding in the George Civic Centre.
Various neighbourhood watch groups, police officers and Community Police Forum (CPF) members from across the Southern Cape attended the event.
The brand launch forms part of the department’s efforts to professionalise neighbourhood watches to increase community participation, create safer neighbourhoods and increase awareness of safety within communities.
The professionalisation of neighbourhood watches started in 2013 through the Western Cape Community Safety Act (WCCSA).
"Over the past few years the Neighbourhood Watch project has evolved rapidly. On 1 October 2016 the Act was promulgated, allowing the department to formally begin accrediting neighbourhood watches in the Western Cape," said Fritz.
In 2017 a new training manual for neighbourhood watches was developed. In 2018 funding for accredited neighbourhood watches was approved and implemented.
"This brings us to 2019 where we are launching the new neighbourhood watch brand."
Certificates and starter kits containing safety gear were also handed out to neighbourhood watch groups at the event.
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