The objectives of this study were; to describe
the participation of the community members in the
Community Policing Forums; to identify the
participation of CPFs in the community; to identify
challenges faced by Community Policing Forums in the
Country; to identify the purpose of the Community
Policing Forums; to establish the strengths of the CPFs
in doing their work; and to determine the needs of the
CPFs to enable them to do their work. The study will be
derived into two sections. Section 1 will describe the roles
and responsibilities of Community Police Forums and
the way they are organized. The second portion will
cover the South African Police Service's policy-
regulating framework for community policing,
community policing forums, and the Implementation
Guideline for Partnerships in Policing. The different
publications acting as a roadmap for the creation and
execution of CPFs to encourage communication between
SAPS and community members. It is generally thought
that the idea of strengthening community safety through
engagement between SAPS and CPFs to achieve crime
prevention is a legitimate strategy that is not exclusive to
South Africa. In line with Section 205(3) of the
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, this serves
as an addition to crime prevention efforts backed by the
UN. In contrast, the notion of strengthening community
safety through collaboration between SAPS and CPFs to
achieve crime prevention is today regarded as a valid
technique that is not exclusive to South Africa. As for
suggestions, in South Africa, the development of CPFs in
cooperation with the local SAPS to achieve crime
prevention can play crucial roles in combating various
crimes and also act as a deterrent to crimes causation
within South African communities; as a result, the
establishment and implementations should be based on
the confinement of the Constitution of the Republic of
South Africa, 1996, and SAPS Act (No. 68 of 1995). In a
study conducted by Rosenbaum (1994), stated that
research done since the early 1970s has revealed that the
professional law enforcement model used in policing has
flaws. A completely new way of thinking and acting in
the police force will result in a fundamental overhaul of
the organization's structure. The international legal
framework and South African viewpoint must serve as
the change's guiding principles. "(Mamosebo, 2014:22)".
The South African National Government established
Community Policing Forums (CPFs) in each police
station to ensure that both the SAPS and members of the
community are involved in crime prevention within their
area of jurisdiction. This was done in order to implement
the community policing philosophy. Here, we'll go into
great depth on how the police and CPFs work together to
prevent crime.
Keywords : Community Involvement in CPF’s, Participation in Neighbourhood Gatherings, Crime Prevention, Police Accountability, Communication between Police and Community, Community Safety, Financing, Education, Assistance from the Police, Community Support, Lowering Crime, Enhancing Public Safety.