National Regulatory Framework
The following impact Sector Policing:
The Constitution of the RSA (Act 108 of 1998)
The SAPS Act (Act 68 of 1996)
White Paper on Safety and Security
Strategic Plan of the SAPS 2002 - 2005
SAPS National Instruction 1/2002 :
The SA Reserve Police Service
SAPS National Instruction 2003:
Sector Policing
SAPS Interim Regulations for CPF and Boards
Community Policing Policy Framework and Guidelines
The definition of Sector Policing (SP)
Sector Policing is an approach to policing whereby a police stations' service area is divided into smaller, manageable geographical areas known as Sectors.
A police official is appointed to manage each Sector. The primary role and responsibilities of the Sector Manager is to manage the Sector in terms of crime prevention activities.
All roleplayers in a Sector are involved in identifying the particular safety and security needs of the Sector. Addressing the root causes as well as enabling and contributing factors of crime, would ensure crime prevention.
Aim
The aim of Sector Policing is to provide the capacity for full-time Sector Managers in police areas/regions to mobilise and organise role-players from the community in each sector through the Station Community Police Forums/Sub-Forum.
This will ensure that the policing needs of a Sector, as identified by the Sector Manager and the role-players concerned, are addressed.
To achieve this, both the police and role-players within the community must collectively develop the capabilities to find effective solutions for local crime issues.
This implies a more decentralised and personal approach to policing at neighbourhood level, in which the community plays an active role.
Advantages
SP is a more practical form of community policing as it is implemented in smaller, more manageable areas.
SP ensures more effective crime prevention because it attempts to address both the causes of crime and the factors and circumstances that allow crime to take place in a specific area.
SP contributes to more community involvement which will lead to effective police community partnerships, more intelligence from the community, and communities taking responsibility for their own safety and security.
SP improves the interpersonal relationship between the police and its clients which will contribute to more trust, respect and understanding for the police, less fear of crime and better service delivery.
SP is policing at its most basic.
There are 5 Phases to implementation:
Phase 1 - Determining the Boundaries of Sectors
(a) Divide the station precinct into the following:
- geographical size
- natural boundaries
- demographic homogeneity
- CAS blocks
- resources available
- business or residential areas
(b) Demarcation of Sectors must be done in consultation with the local CPF
Phase 2 - Appointing Sector Managers
(a) Appoint Sector Managers
(b) Appoint an assistant
(c) Sector Managers should have skills to enable them to fulfill the position
(d) CPF should be consulted in the process
Phase 3 - Compiling the Sector Profile
(a) The Sector Manager must compile a Sector Profile
Phase 4 - Establishment of SCF (Sector Crime Forum)
(a) Identify main role players in sector and arrange a meeting to establish SCF
(b) Request the assistance of CPF and Police Reservists
(c) At the first meeting the Sector Managers must explain the concept of Sector Policing
(d) Identify and recruit Sector Reservists
(e) Add SCF members particulars to Sector Profile
Phase 5
Activities and monthly meetings of the Sector Forum
(a) Conduct monthly meetings
(b) Identify crime tendencies and problems
(c) Develop Sector strategies/solutions regarding crime prevention
(d) Monitor Sector strategies regarding crime prevention
(e) CPF oversight
Membership of the SCF
The CPF is in a sense a discussion group, and a framework within which the SAPS and the community can discuss common problems, devise strategies, share information, and the police and community can plan and liaise with each other regarding crime prevention.
The SCF are independent of the CPF, with their own constitution, regulations etc.
These are the active components of community crime prevention activities.
Having conducted the discussions, agreed strategies etc at the CPF, it is the function of the SCF to now implement these activities and strategies within their Sectors.
The SCF are in other words the vehicles through which the activities are carried out within the Sector.
Membership is open to the general public who wish to become actively involved, under supervision of the SAPS, in crime prevention activities within their Sector, as much as they may legally and practically do so.
A decision made by the majority of civilians actively involved in Sector Policing within the Booysens Precinct was that the SAPS conduct a security clearance on all office holders of the CPF and all members of the SCF.
This is to discourage and hopefully eliminate criminals from infiltrating and influencing the crime prevention activities of the SCF, and endangering the lives of participants.
Persons who do not receive security clearance or who do not wish to undergo the security clearance procedure, may therefore not participate in the Sector Crime Forum closed meetings.
The SAPS Sector Managers however are of course always available to all members of the public.
The SCF also conduct public meetings where naturally all are welcome.
