Children across Kalksteenfontein and Valhalla Park were kept busy during the winter school holiday, thanks to an array of programmes hosted by the Metro Police Neighbourhood Safety Officers (NSOs) in Ward 31, focused on child safety in these communities.
NSO teams across Cape Town are making headway in strengthening ties in communities where they are deployed.
In Ward 31, the group of NSOs are working closely with local schools to develop various programmes and interventions aimed at keeping young children safe.
The team has also established a drill squad consisting of about 50 children from various primary schools – taking a leaf from the book of their law enforcement counterparts in the School Resource Officer unit.
The drill squad rehearses three times a week – many of the children have already shown an improvement in behaviour and discipline.
The NSOs also run drills, based on assessments around the children’s safety needs and concerns – in conjunction with their schools.
This includes fire safety drills, who to call in an emergency, and the importance of avoiding active crime scenes and staying safe.
During the school holidays officers also hosted a fun day where the children participated in various sports games and other activities.
‘It was heartwarming to see the officers, who in addition to their crime-fighting duties, take the time to invest in the safety of children. Each oversight visit is a valuable learning opportunity. It allows us to see what’s working, what isn’t, the types of shifts communities would like to see as this project continues to evolve, and the different challenges our Neighbourhood Safety Officers face in communities across Cape Town. It is very encouraging to see the impact they are making as they continue to learn and grow as officers,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Residents are reminded that the NSOs are a resource in their communities.
To help them address concerns or issues in their areas of deployment, the public is encouraged to continue using the City of Cape Town App to report by-law offences and to call 021 480 7700 to report crime-related incidents.
