Issued by: SA Communication Service
STATEMENT BY ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER MIKE LOMBARD HEAD OF BASIC TRAINING SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE HEAD QUARTERS PRETORIA ON THE SAPS/SPORT AGAINST CRIME CYCLE TOUR TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY POLICING
Pretoria, 29 January 1998
Today another milestone was reached to enhance community policing and in particular community police forums (CPF's) with the launching of the SAC/OUTSPAN/SAPS AGAINST CRIME CYCLE TOUR to promote community policing.
This initiative which was founded and developed by SAPS Cycle Club Pretoria under the leadership of Commissioner Mike Lombard - the chairman. Planning started way back in 1997 and was made possible by sponsorships which without this tour would not have been possible.
The aim would be to create more awareness amongst the community about Community Police Forums existing in their towns and city suburbs. Emphasis will be placed on the importance to join or at least now and again attend the CPF meetings and make a contribution to lower crime in their immediate environment, thereby not only assisting the police but also creating a more safe and stable environment for themselves and their family.
With staggering crime statistics and limited police resources, community policing is the only solution to fight crime through part- nership policing thereby determining through consultation, community needs and policing priorities and to promote police accountability, transparency and effectiveness.
The team will therefor not only distribute information brochures about CPF's but will also get written commitments from all SAPS members and local CPF members as they commit themselves to support Community Policing Forums.
All the members of the team are registered cyclists and have undergone an intensive selection process and fitness programme before being elected for the team. The SAC/OUTSPAN/SAPS Cycle Tour will set off from Pietersburg on 3 February 1998 and will arrive in Cape Town a month later.
Local cyclists are invited to join the cycle team as they pass through their local policing area to pledge their support to the commitments which the SAC/OUTSPAN/SAPS cyclists carry to Cape Town. these commitments will be handed to the National Commissioner of Police Commissioner George Fivaz at a special ceremony in Cape Town.
United in victory the SAC/OUTSPAN/SAPS Cycle Team are scheduled to cycle in the Argus Cycling Tour (a further 105 km) on Sunday 8 March 1998.
It is important to call on the media to help us communicate throughout the tour to enable us to convey this very important concept of policing. The contribution of our sponsors made it possible and therefore it is fitting to thank Outspan the main sponsor, Iveco, Vocacom and the Consortium of the SAPS, P.P.L, REUMER.
Enquiries: Superintendent Leon Engelbrecht 082 800 6719 Sylvia Ortlieb (011) 782 8430