On Wednesday, 12 December 2012, Minister of Police, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, together with MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, Mr Butana Khompela, opened a state of the art 10111 Centre in Heidedal, Bloemfontein.
The event started at about 11:00 and was attended by multitudes of community members from Mangaung and surrounding areas as well as the top management of Free State SAPS and a number of Station Commissioners from Free State province. It was also colored beautifully by the presence of SAPS concert and marching band and a number of local artists who gave a community a run for their money by performing heartwarming and melodious songs.
The Minister started by inspecting SAPS parade that was displayed in front of the centre by a number of disciplined, committed and hard working members from various police stations around the province before the main event took place.
Although he was very happy to officially open this center, the Minister indicated how worried he was about a 10111 number being misused by some of the community members around the country. He asked the parents to sensitize their children around the use of 10111 numbers. He asked them to use it efficiently and effectively and that only genuine complaints are to be reported at this centre. He made reference to a recent research study that was conducted in Gauteng on a 10 111 centre that is based in Midrand. He told them that out of 14 700 calls that were received at that centre, only 3000 of those calls were genuine complaints.
He also asked the parents to ensure that their children do not participate in prank calls to this centre as this hampers service delivery. He told them that in a case where a person reports a false complaint, he/she might be blocking a person who wants to report a genuine case.
The Minister then handed over this multidisciplinary center that will function in two folds; firstly to receive calls from the public as well as dispatching the information received to the relevant stations, units and stakeholders. Secondly, it will function as a War Room, which is meant to enhance the investigation process through a centralized expert support function that will not only improve information flow across station boundaries but will also ensure that criminal incidents are managed effectively and efficiently.
Criminal activities will be monitored and analyzed and perpetrators will also be profiled at this centre. Hotspots will be identified and possible links between all crimes committed will be established so that crime prevention operations can be planned through intelligence information gathered at this center.
He also urged the police to work hand in hand with the community; as this centre will strengthen their partnership. He asked them to ensure that they respond very quick to the complaints that are dispatched to them and that the community must immediately report all criminal activities.
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