Community participation is an effective weapon to use against criminals in anti-crime initiatives involving police and government.

Community participation is an effective weapon to use against criminals in anti-crime initiatives involving police and government.

Hence the success of the concept of community policing forums (CPFs) in neighbourhoods that appreciate its usefulness as a component of a crime-fighting strategy.

By targeting the CPFs for skills development and training, the Gauteng government has identified an appropriate area that needs to be tweaked to strengthen the capacity of policing. Empowering CPFs will help introduce a level of sophistication required to match the shrewd crime syndicates operating with impunity in our midst.

Therefore it is important that this strategic imperative is incorporated in the national anti-crime plan.