Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has officially launched a new force to protect residents, especially in townships and informal settlements. Crime Prevention Wardens will work with SAPS, private security, and other law enforcement agencies to prevent crime and lawlessness.
The launch took place at Giant Stadium, Soshanguve, where 3 000 Crime Prevention Wardens have been recruited to support ward-based policing.
High-speed vehicles, drones, and helicopters will be used by the wardens to patrol the province’s crime hot spots. Premier Lesufi announced that they will add almost 8 thousand CCTV cameras across Gauteng in the next few days.
“With these helicopters, cars, ambulances no one will run away from us. We will chase criminals wherever they are. They can face justice” Lesufi warns criminals.
Lesufi assured residents of Gauteng that starting from Monday, the Crime Prevention Wardens will patrol the streets of Gauteng. The newly recruited Crime Prevention Wardens finished training in April. The wardens will invade Gauteng Wards as force multipliers in the fight against crime & lawlessness as committed by Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
“A targeted crime prevention policy involves the deployment of crime prevention officers in hotspot areas so that criminal activity can be deterred and detected,” Premier Lesufi said.
“The provincial government is committed to preventing crime, corruption, vandalism, and lawlessness through Crime Prevention Wardens. We recruited and trained Crime Prevention Wardens vigorously. Several crime hotspots within the province will be patrolled by the newly formed Crime Prevention Warden force by May 2023. added Premier Lesufi.
The roles and responsibilities of Crime Prevention Wardens (CPWs) include:
1. Ensuring police visibility at the ward level, working closely with Community Patrollers to educate the public about ward-based policing.
2. Form partnerships with schools across the province to address criminal elements in and outside the school precincts.
3. Providing the necessary support and timely response to crime incidents in Gauteng schools.
4. Eradicating “lawlessness” through heightened law enforcement operations and preventing illegal land occupation, which extends to damage to state infrastructure.
Crime Prevention Wardens (CPWs) enhance visibility through patrol operations at the ward level across Gauteng communities.
They will augment law enforcement’s work in the fight against crime at the ward level. They will initially focus on 361 Wards, and later expand across Gauteng.
Crime Prevention Wardens will be recognised as Peace Officers upon completion of their training programme following section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Act (Act No. 51 of 1977).
They may arrest any person who commits or attempts to commit any offence in their presence and without a warrant.
According to the Gauteng Provincial Government, crime is its number one enemy. The Crime Prevention Wardens have been introduced as a new Crime Busting Unit, Premier Lesufi declared.
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