Community Policing is a philosophy that guides police management styles and operational strategies and emphasises the establishment of police-community partnerships and a problem solving approach responsive to the needs of the community.

By working with members of the community, their needs can be more easily assessed.

This also has a great effect of boosting the police presence on the streets. By doing so, crime can be more easily prevented before it occurs and the more vulnerable members of the community can be protected.

Police precinct is a form of division of a geographical area patrolled by a

police force

Statutory bodies, Police/Policing Forums (CPF's), consisting of members from the community, business leaders and other interests groups are established.CPF's are characterised as "the voice of the people". They are "vital in crime prevention and crime reduction".

Their roles include "monitoring of police actions to ensure transparency and accountability; mobilising community support in crime detection; improving relationship with the community; engaging in social crime prevention initiatives and preventive actions taken towards drugs and child abuse.

Sector policing - a national policy set by the SAPS - also comes into the picture. The purpose is to involve the community in the role of policing, It's a combination of blockwatch and neighbourhood watch, but the police come into the equation.

There are regular meetings to set the agenda for crime prevention and community policing. To this effect, policing is more citizen centred and the needs of the communities are more effectively fulfilled by the police.

This toolkit explains community policing and Community Police Forums, and gives you all the help you need in setting up and running a Community Police Forum. Department of Community Safety provincial administration, Western Cape.Go Here