Woodstock Residents Association

In the past a big complaint from the public was that they never received any feedback from the police once they opened a case at the police station. It is difficult for the detectives working at Woodstock police station to provide that feedback by phoning the complainants, simply because each detective has a huge number of cases in hand and does not have the time to do so.

It is now possible for residents to get feedback by phoning the Detectives’ office at Woodstock police station on 021 442 3109 and speak to Mrs Veldsman or email to woodstock-cid@saps.org.za marked Attention Mrs Veldsman. It is essential to quote the Case Number of the incident, otherwise the information cannot be accessed. Mrs Veldsman will do her best to get the information to you.

Should there be a problem with this service, please contact the Woodstock Community Police Forum.

The penalty for turning a “blind eye” to what others use your property for could - if your tenants turn out to be criminals - be forfeiture to the State.

A recent High Court judgment highlights the need for you to take positive steps to ensure that your assets aren’t used to commit crime. The law recruits you - as a property owner - into an active role as a guardian of your property against crime. You can’t sit back and be “supine”. You must “where reasonably possible, take steps to discourage criminal conduct” involving the use of your property.

In the case in question, the tenants of a farm were using it to manufacture mandrax. The owners weren’t shown to have in any way participated in any illegal activity - but they nevertheless had their farm forfeited to the State in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. They were unable to convince the Court that they had acted with the degree of “vigilance and care” which the law requires of owners.

The onus is very much on you there; so keep an eye on what your tenants are up to!

A separate area of the Woodstock Police Station, the Victim Support Room, is staffed by volunteers from the community, who seek to empower victims and provide emotional support immediately after a crime and on a continuing basis as desired. The Room operates in co-operation with the police service and the Community Police Forum.

Volunteers at the Woodstock SAPS Victim Support Room provide

• a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen;
• help contacting family or friends;
• give guidance through symptoms of what one may feel as a result of the event;
• help explain the process that needs to be followed;
• help in communicating with the SAPS;
• give practical help to avoid further problems; and
• find referral to a professional counselling service if a traumatic response is profound.

The Victim Support Room plays a pivotal role in victim empowerment and support, but cannot function without volunteers. At the moment there is a serious shortage of people to help out and that’s why we would like to call on members of the community to volunteer their services and time, so that we are able to have a fully functioning Victim Support Room.

The ideal person should be committed and compassionate and willing to deal with serious issues relating to crime. Training with regards to Trauma counselling and First Aid will be provided by the Community Police Forum.

We need you to support your community!!

If you would like to become a volunteer, please contact Sergeant Malila - 082 778 7344 or Teun Baartman - 083 298 1009.

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