JMPD women officers take charge

19 August 2015

 

It is National Women’s Month and female members of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) are in charge and on top of crime prevention initiatives in the city.

 

In a crime blitz involving only JMPD’s women officers in the City’s Region G, a total of 74 people were arrested as the crime busters showed no mercy to offenders.

 

Of these, 61 were arrested for drunken driving, five for possession of a stolen vehicle, five for possession of designer drug nyaope, two for possession of dagga and one for possession of an unlicensed firearm. Launched on August 3, the ongoing crime prevention drive includes, the mounting of female-manned roadblocks and the random frisking of drivers and passengers.

 

The initiatives form part of a broader Women’s Month campaign held under the theme: “Together We Can Make a Difference to the Less Fortunate.”

 

The campaign will culminate in an HIV-AIDS and drug abuse awareness drive at the Ennerdale Civic Centre on August 27 during which JMPD officers, the cast Soul City and members of the Treatment Action Campaign will educate people about the risk of engaging in unprotected sex and the effects the disease has on families. According to Sergeant Tshidi Nyembe, JMPD Cluster Commander in Region G, only female police officers are involved in the ongoing campaign, which she said had so far been “a huge success”.

 

“We’re all aware of the rising rate of drug abuse in communities. As law enforcement officers, it is our responsibility to curb this epidemic. We’ve gone out in full force to prevent crime in our region. But at the same time we have not forgotten the needy in our midst. We feel this is the right time as women and members of the community to help them.

 

“In our fight against drug abuse and drunken driving, we had rehabilitation speakers and professionals who addressed and educated the community and students on their dangers and consequences,” Sgt Nyembe said.

 

Gender violence and crime against women and children were high on the agenda at a community meeting at the Ennerdale Civic Centre recently.