The effect of young civilians on patrol (NCOP) into community policing : a case of Seshego Police Station in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

This paper pursues to investigate the effect of young civilians on patrol into community policing, a case of Seshego Police Station in Limpopo Province. Crime has taken its toll and it is being committed in different forms and shapes. It is due to the high level of crime that institutions like Police services remain vital in communities. The impact is that crime in people's lives threatens their safety and security. In most cases, the level of crime has negatively affected the countries' economy, as it raises alarm to investors. The Department of Community Safety in the Limpopo province, in response to the soaring levels of crime, came up with a crime prevention strategy that consists of seven pillars aimed at addressing the issue of crime. The invention of a youth crime prevention programme by the Department of Community Safety called Young Civilians on Patrol (YCOP). The YCOP programme was launched in 2016. Qualitative method with purposive sampling is employed in this study. The study area is Seshego, Zone 7, 9 kilometres from Polokwane. Sample size is as follows –YCOP participants were 496 throughout the province but only 8 YCOP participants who are based in the Seshego police station. One police official who is their supervisor/coordinator, 1 Station Commander (Seshego Police Station), one Senior Manager from Department of Community Safety as the custodian of the YCOP programme, 5 members of the Community Police Forum, 2 of whom from the sub forum, 2 members of the VEP, 2 members from NPO, 5 members of Business Against Crime as they all worked closely with the YCOPs in crime prevention around Seshego area. The total sample size is 25. The study recommends that DCS should involve institutions like schools, Higher education, local churches and community organisations in community policing. Keywords: YCOP, Crime, Community safety, Community, Civilians