South African Police Service joins forces to protect our children
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has joined forces with the entire nation as part of the annual government initiative during Child Protection Week (29 May 2016 to 5 June 2016) to keep our children safe under the national theme “Let us all protect children to move South Africa forward.”
The men and women in blue are set to visit various schools, clinics, taxi ranks and churches countrywide as part of the campaign. They will cover a variety of topics including sexual abuse of children, the importance of reporting child abuse to the police and how, when and where to report child abuse in order to raise crime awareness.
The Ministries for Police and Basic Education signed the Protocol on Crime and Violence in Schools on April 2011. This is an agreement with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to among others ensure safer schools which is the cornerstone of the National Development Plan and the SAPS is responsible for the implementation there of.
The Division Visible Policing together with Provinces identifies problematic areas with regard to various crimes that impact on children. In terms of Protocol on Crime and Violence in Schools the SAPS and DBE are required to ensure that schools are linked to police stations and to ensure that there are proactive crime prevention activities undertaken at those particular stations such as regular searches and campaigns on the effects of substance abuse.
The SAPS has also partnered with other Departments like the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJCD) and the Department of Social Development (DSD) among others to engage in activities that will ensure that children are safe and that reports to that effect are tabled in Parliament.
The SAPS is playing a critical role in so far as the implementation of the Child Justice Act is concerned to ensure that children in conflict with the law do not become secondary victims of the system.
The SAPS through the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units also continuously conduct crime awareness campaigns as part of the unit’s day-to-day activities.
The operations comprise of efforts aimed at addressing and combating abuse against children, educating the public about the importance of protecting children and channels available within the SAPS for reporting child abuse. The awareness campaigns is conducted in line with children’s rights as articulated in the Children's Act of 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005).
The SAPS re-established the FCS units in June 2010 which comprises of FCS Operations and the Forensic Social Work Section, to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in combating crimes against women and children by means of both pro-active and re-active strategies and to provide sensitive and effective service delivery to the victims of sexual offences. The units also provide support that encourages victims to report crimes against women and children.
The SAPS is dedicated and committed to the aim of child protection which is to ensure the safety, well-being, care and protection of children through an integrated multi-disciplinary approach.
The protection of our children is every one’s business and responsibility and the police urge the community to continue to report any suspected child abuse, neglect or exploitation not only during Child Protection Week but when and where ever there are any suspicions to your nearest police station or to SAPS Crime Stop 08600 10111. You may remain anonymous.
Enquiries:
Brigadier Vish Naidoo
Cell: 082 567 4153
