Why do neighbourhood watches need a code of conduct?
Working as a neighbourhood watch member requires tact and patience. You will often deal with matters that people feel strongly about.
The neighbourhood watch code of conduct is a framework of values and principals that will help you to do your work well. It helps you to focus your energy on the right things. You will know how to show that you are committed to the task. It also helps you think of ways to be responsible, positive & constructive.
The code is not just for you to think about yourself and behave, but also information to share with the community, so that they can understand what you are doing and why.
We at Crime Busters RSA Neighborhood Area Assistance are not registered as a Watch or Organization to provide response in the event of an emergency. Our 'response' must be followed according to law to maintain order and not aggitate investigations by law enforcement agencies. Please adhere to all laws as you will become a problem to the law if you do not act accordingly!!!
1. A neighbourhood watch must operate as the eyes and the ears of the community it serves and must cooperate with the SAPS.
2. A neighbourhood watch must assist SAPS and other safety services and partners to safeguard the local community and their property, to manage and control crime prevention initiatives and to discourage crime in our area.
3. This code of conduct is binding on all members of the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance and members must pledge their adherence to this code, failure to adhere will result in termination of his/her membership.
4. This code of conduct regulates the relationship between the members of the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance and members of the community and promotes exemplary conduct by members whilst serving the community as a member of the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance.
5. By pledging adherence to this code of conduct, a member acknowledges that he/she is fully aware of the risks involved due to the nature of the task.
6. A member must at all times act in accordance with the principals enshrined in the constitution of the Republic of SA, 1996, and must -
a) Act in a manner that will uphold and promote the aims and objectives of the Crime Busters RSA neighbourhood watch:
b) Respect & protect the dignity & rights of every person in the neighbourhood, including the right to free movement.
c) Act within his / her right as a private person, and not beyond those rights.
d) Serve the community in the area in an unbiased, apolitical and impartial manner in order to create confidence in the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance, and build unity in a safe neighbourhood;
e) Refrain, as much as reasonably possible from placing him/herself and fellow members of the public at risk, and
f) Act in a non-violent manner and may not take the law into his/her own hands.
7. A member may NOT:
a) Discriminate unfairly against any person on the basis of language, age, gender, religion, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, disability, political persuasion, or any other constitutionally protected orientation.
b) Conduct himself/herself in a manner that will bring the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance into disrepute;
c) Disseminate or divulge any confidential or privileged information obtained as a result of his/her membership or obtained whilst on formal patrol, unless it is essential to do so to help to protect a member of the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance or community.
d) Exploit his / her membership of the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance for his/her own personal advantage or benefit
e) Accept any payment, commission or gratuity in connection with his / her membership of the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance except after being duly authorised to do so by the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance; and
f) Be in possession of any dangerous weapon under circumstances which makes him / her guilty of a contravention of section 3 (1) of the dangerous weapon act, 2013 (Act 15 of 2013)
8. If a member is convicted of a sexual offence of crime involving violence of dishonesty during his / her membership, and the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance may terminate membership in terms of procedures provided in the founding document of the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance.
9. When a member is patrolling as a member of the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance, the member must -
a) when possible, alert the SAPS in the area where the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance is patrolling;
b) Strive to work in partnership, whenever possible, with members of the SAPS, municipal police service or law enforcement agencies with regard to crime prevention in the area;
c) Obey all lawful instructions issued by members of the services mentioned in the paragraph above;
d) Carry the identification cards issued in accordance with regulations 4 (5) of the community safety regulations;
e) Be punctual, reliable and competent in all duties as a Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance member;
f) Act in the best interests of individual residents, tenants or owners of immovable property or with other relevant interests in the area and the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance, except in circumstances beyond their ability, or determined by personal safety;
g) Act in accordance with official handbooks of the Department of Community Safety developed with Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance members, including protocols for incident management, crime scene management and best practice in every circumstance;
h) Display commitment to the best possible functioning of the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance and the promotion of healthy inter-personal relations; and
I) Undertake to report any individual, vehicle or situation suspected of being connected to crime to the control room and, when necessary, to the SAPS.
10. A members assistance to the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance is voluntary and therefor when a member is using his/her private vehicle during the assistance, neither SAPS nor Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance can be held responsible for any damage to private vehicles caused during the rendering of the service.
11. Members must familiarize themselves with regard to the law regarding the rights of private persons to arrest or perform searches, including the minimum use of force and must at all times comply with the Criminal Procedure Act 1977 (Act 51 of 1977)
12. Members should rather report suspected criminal behaviour to the police before attempting to perform an arrest
13. No intimidation may be used against any individuals in any neighbourhood where such patrols take place
14. No form of vigilantism will be accepted
15. Where possible, Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance must strive to work in partnership with the community police forum & sub forum in the area
16. Where possible, the Chairperson or Coordinator of the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance must regularly attend the sector meetings held by the SAPS and share information at the sector meetings regarding the crime situation in the area.
Disciplinary Measures
17. A member who is in breach of this code of conduct may lose his or her membership in terms of disciplinary procedures instituted by the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance as provided in the founding document of the Crime Busters RSA Neighbourhood Area Assistance.
Amendment to this Code of Conduct
18. Amendment to this code of conduct may be made as required and it will be published immediately for the community.
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