Residents patrolling their neighbourhood

GEORGE NEWS - Every Monday and Wednesday morning, private patroller vehicles can be seen driving up and down the streets of Camphersdrift, Glenbarrie and Heatherlands (CGH), for that is when "bag scratchers" arrive in the neighbourhood - often in their numbers - for garbage removal day.

Patrols are done voluntarily by members of the CGH Neighbourhood Watch (CGHNW) in an effort to prevent crime.

CGHNW chairperson Shawn Northey says that among the innocent souls scratching through rubbish in search of items that might be of some value to them, there are opportunists - ex-prisoners and gang members. They carry their gang number tattoo on them.

"They use garbage day as a cover to watch residents' movements and commit crime and often come with homemade weapons," explained Northey, who was wearing a Keffler vest when George Herald visited the area on a recent Monday morning.

Northey told of a case where a thief who was sweeping the street in front of a house broke in later that day. In another case, a man looked innocent while sitting on a pavement with his cold drink, spade and dustpan, but he was pretending to be a worker in the area, all the while watching residents' movements.

The patrollers work as a team and are in radio contact. Female patrollers act as spotters and would not confront a suspicious-looking person on their own, as it can be dangerous. Says spotter Marlene McKenzie, "Pool noodles are used to camouflage sharp, home-made weapons, so we rather call for backup."

They always remain alert, also on other days and at night when someone is on standby. During load shedding there are usually street patrols.

'Illegal to tamper or handle rubbish on pavement'

CGHNW approached the municipal law enforcement department for assistance. "We feel that law enforcement should be in the neighbourhoods helping to enforce by-laws. It is actually not the public's duty." But it was to no avail

The NW was also considering a type of system that would allow bag scratchers controlled access so that they could enter the neighbourhood at one end, go through the bags and leave at the other end, but that idea did not get support from the municipality.

McKenzie said three law enforcement officers once came to help patrol the area in a vehicle. "They only asked the bag scratchers to close the bags once they were finished," she said.

"So the message they conveyed was that it is okay to scratch through the rubbish, but it is in fact illegal in terms of the municipal by-law that forbids the handling of rubbish bags by anyone but the municipality once they are out on the pavement. Some of the bag scratchers take whole bags with them to Van Riebeeck Park where they turn them out and make a mess. This has to be cleaned up."

Dawie Adonis, Director of Community Services at the municipality, said, "Deployment of law enforcement resources occurs daily based on operational needs and responses to unplanned incidents within their scope of work. Law enforcement officers are responsible for enforcing various municipal by-laws across the entire George municipal area."

Asked how many officers and vehicles the department has, Adonis said, "As a precautionary measure, the municipality does not disclose the specific details of its law enforcement and security strength."

To minimise opportunities for illicit activities, he advised residents against placing black bags on the pavement overnight.

"If the neighbourhood watch suspects criminal activities, they are encouraged to contact the police." He said controlled access cannot be supported due to the constitutional rights of individuals to freedom of movement.

Members of the CGHNW checking on a group in the street.