This was said by the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, General Mzwandile Petros, during Bedfordview’s state of the suburb address last night.

Bedfordview Community Police Forum (BCPF), in conjunction with the Bedfordview SAPS, hosted the meeting to discuss the state of crime in the suburb.

Guest speakers included Mr Yusuf Abramjee of Crime Line; Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko; Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, General Mzwandile Petros; Brigadier Mdlankomo, and Mr Gavin Koppel from the Shout campaign.

During a question and answer session a community member asked the panel about the morale of the police officers at the station.

BCPF’s chairperson, Ms Marina Constas, said morale is low.

“The police station is a disgrace. About 35 detectives are squashed into one room and they are forced to do some of their work from the boots of their cars. BCPF has written to the national and provincial police commissioners about this several times.

“This is after the community of Bedfordview agreed to raise a portion of the money to build a three-storey station where each detective would have their own office. This station would be next to where the current station is. A lot of work was put into where the project ended. I personally spent four years preparing for it. All this ended by a letter with two sentences; ‘We regret to inform you that this project will not continue because Bedfordview is not a priority’,” Ms Constas said.

She also added that the attitude from some of the residents does not help police morale.

“Some residents go to the charge office with attitude. I know that because I have seen it. Yes, there are police officers who do not know what they are doing but the majority of our police officers are hardworking and dedicated people. So let’s support and encourage them as much as possible,” she said.

General Petros urged the BCPF to engage him again on the plans of the new police station.

“The Bedfordview police station is in a bad place. It is on the corner and it is not clear who came to the police station and who came to the restaurants nearby. The parking there is so small. Let us see if that project can be revived. I cannot speak with authority saying we will build the new police station but let us look at all the possibilities,” Gen Petros said.

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