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THE Camps Bay Police Station has a new station commissioner, one month after the Camps Bay Community Police Forum raised its unhappiness with the then station commissioner at a national police level.

People's Post reported in May that security company Bay Response had withdrawn its support for the station in protest at what they saw as poor management. Bay Response used to drive the then-station commissioner, Captain Primrose Tyala, around as she does not have a driver's licence.

In raising its dissatisfaction with the police at a provincial and national level, the Camps Bay Community Police Forum also called for urgent attention to be paid to the shortage of vehicles at the station as well as what they experienced as poor response times. The matter received coverage in People's Post and a Cape Town daily newspaper.

On 25 June, a new station commissioner was appointed. Following the appointment of Superintendent Thandi Mvoto as station commissioner, Bay Response has pledged its renewed support for the station.

"Roleplayers within the area are back on board and are eager to work together," says Bernard Schäfer, chairperson of Camps Bay Community Police Forum (CPF).

"This will hopefully improve service delivery and overcome the negativity that has resulted from dissatisfaction with the station over past months," he says.

Schäfer says it is clear that the CPF's appeals for attention have been heard and answered. "The letter, which detailed concerns and problems, was favourably received and swift and decisive action was taken," he says.

However, the provincial office of the police says that the appointment of a new station commissio?ner is unrelated to the CPF's appeals. It maintains that the appointment is part of a national restructuring process. The station, it says, has been upgraded to the effect that an officer with the rank of Superintendent, as opposed to Captain, was needed as station commissioner. The upgrading also entails the rank of Captain in command of the station's detective branch, as opposed to the previous rank of Inspector being in command of this branch.

Superintendent Billy Jones, provincial police spokesperson, says that the Camps Bay Police Station is one of a number of other identified police stations, such as Strandfontein, that are seeing a streng?thening in capacity. This will bring not only a strengthening in human resources, but also in physical resources, he says.

"This process, which is part of the restructuring process in the SAPS on a national level, started last year already in the province at various police stations and it is being continually rolled out to all the other police stations in the province. Capacity at station level will be strengthened with sufficient resources through training, skills transfer and adequate authority."

While Captain Tyala is no longer station commissioner, Superintendent Jones points out that she remains at the station as deputy station commissioner.

"We fully support the new ma?nagement of the Camps Bay Police Station and we will be working very actively through the CPF to assist in rebuilding the station," says Lindley Kruger, owner of Bay Response.

Schäfer highlights that the CPF is extremely excited at the opportunity to work with the new management in addressing remaining issues and thereby assisting the police in once again offering a professional service.

"The CPF, the Camps Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association (CBRRA) and Bay Response security would like to take this opportunity to welcome the new management into the community.

"We appeal to the Camps Bay community to give their support and work with us in a positive manner to overcome the negativity of the past," Schäfer says.

Speaking to People's Post on how she plans to regain the community?s trust in the police station, Station Commissioner Superintendent Mvoto said that passion for the community and a willingness to serve it would be the key.

"There is no better strategy than working with everyone involved and being transparent about the service that we offer," she said.

The station's main priority at present, says Superintendent Mvoto, is to strengthen sector policing. From there a plan will be drawn up with the CPF regarding projects and initiatives for the new financial year.

Mvoto, who has been in the police service for the past 17 years, says that her door is always open and she welcomes any good suggestions or ideas for best practice that the community may have. She can be phoned on 082 778 6616.

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