Dear Editor, The report by Craig McKune (Woodstock crime soars but 'cops don't care'), Weekend Argus, April 18 2009, refers. This one-sided and ill-informed report seriously damages the credibilty of Woodstock SAPS and tarnishes the good working relationship between the Woodstock police and the communities they serve. As a past member of the Woodstock Community Police Forum for six years, I know for a fact that the Station Commissioner, Senior Superintendent Pierre van der Riel, and his team, have made a huge difference in policing the difficult and large precinct of Woodstock, including University Estate, Walmer Estate, Salt River and Observatory. I can also state, without fear of contradiction, that Observatory, or Sector One of Woodstock SAPS, has huge respect for, and is very grateful to, the Woodstock police for their visible policing in our community. Their service has been excellent. Perhaps the real reason that crime in Woodstock is perceived by some to be abnormally high, is due to the lack of involvement by certain members of that community in assisting the police in crime prevention. It seems that very few people in certain parts of Woodstock care enough about crime in their "neighbourhood" and few, it seems, have made the effort to be pro-active about tackling the malaise of gangsterism and drug-dealing in their community. If residents and businesses are so concerned about crime in Woodstock, they should make an effort to join the Woodstock CPF and form civic structures such as ratepayers' associations, business forums and a neighbourhood watch, as many other communities in Cape Town have done. It is high time that the citizens of Woodstock made a stand against crime, by reporting the criminals in their midst to the police, instead of blaming the police. Senior Superintendent van der Riel and his team are doing a sterling job and deserve the support and praise of the community. Woodstock SAPS does care. Do you? Brian Gray Founding Member Observatory Neighbourhood Watch Note to the Editor: Although I presently reside in Glencairn, I was an active member of the Woodstock CPF from 2002 to 2007. I have also held the positions of Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Observatory Civic Association during this time. When Sector policing was introduced, I was Chairman of the Sector One (Observatory) visible policing unit. I was also a co-founder of the Observatory Neighbourhood Watch in 2007. The community of Observatory also held a fundraising event on National Women's Day 2007, for the widow and daughters of Detective Inspector Lourens le Roux, who was murdered by gangsters from Woodstock. I respectfully recommend that, in future, your journalist(s) gather(s) more information about the Woodstock police, the CPF and other relevant organisations, in order to gain a balanced and well informed perspective, before publishing trash, such as Craig McKunes' report. I suggest that you transfer him to The Daily Voice. Regards, Brian Gray 24 Glen Road Glencairn 7975 Tel: 082 569 9381 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
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