Report back on CPF visit to 10111 Mount road SAPSThe sight inspection was arranged by the Kabega Park Police Station for the benefit of the exco of the Kabega Park CPF. The visit was scheduled for Friday 12 September 2008.
The visit lasted for about 3 hours and we were well received by the Supervisor Capt. Skepo. All questions put to her were answered satisfactorily. All staff including civilian clerks and uniformed officers were very helpful in answering any of our questions. Fourteen staff members of the B shift were present during our visit.
We wish to highlight the following observations re our visit to 10111 Mount Road
Staff morale was very high in spite of the challenges they are faced with.
There were 8 call takers, 4 dispatchers, 1 person handling checks on stolen automobiles and registration checks and then the Supervisor.
Upon arrival at 19:40 the amount of calls taken from 7:00 -19:40 on 12 September was 1147
From 07:00 - 07:30 there were 84 calls taken
From 07:30 - 06:30 (13 September 2008) 829 calls were taken
We are going to visist again at the end of Sept. We were informed that is is very busy at the end of the month
Psychological support is provided by the SAPS to call takers if and when the need arises
The civilian staff are given in service training and it appeared they were well trained.
All systems were in proper running order and all staff present during our visit proficient in the use of the equipment
The system in place dealing with the distress calls adequately caters for all different stages of crime being committed. Calls are categorized by takers and transferred via the computer system to the dispatchers which in turn then dispatches the police members to the particular area from where the call originated. The system then reflects all cases by color from high priority to low priority.
Negative points we need to highlight are the following.
Abuse of 10111 by the public is a problem as was conveyed to us by a call taker and we witnessed a few abuse callers.
Crime Prevention Units (CPU) sign on for duty , but dispatchers convey to us that they are not always helpful in tending to complaints when there are no other units available.
Staff that require transport from and to home with SAPS vehicles is a big problem- no vehicles to attend to complaints.
The general shortage of manpower and vehicles was obvious as observed by us. By merely looking at the amount of complaints on the system during our visit, no specialist had to tell us there is too little members and vehicles.
Call takers and dispatchers have to deal with many callers complaining that no police unit has arrived to tend to their distress call. This basically put's 10111 staffers at the forefront when the public complain about the police taking forever to tend to their complaints.
Capacity of 10111 will have to be increased to cope with the increasing numbers of crime
We wish to thank the following staffers who made our visit to 10111 an experience to remember: Essie (Call taker), Capt Skepo (supervisor), Florence (PE 1 dispatch), We We (Control 7) and Bu Bu (call taker and our guide).
Prepared by Margaret de Andrade and Werner Senekal
Margaret de Andrade
DA Councillor - Ward 39
Tel + Fax: 041 360 4977 (h)
Tel: 041 371 1572 (w)
Fax: 041 371 1579 (w)
Cell: 082 566 1897
Email; mdandrade@telkomsa.net
Blog Site: http://democracy.hopto.org
[ 1 comment ]
Search
