Parklands Neighbourhood Watch encourages community involvement in crime reporting

Residents are being urged to play a more active role in documenting crime in Parklands through the Parklands Neighbourhood Watch’s ‘See Something Say Something’ campaign.

Launched by Parklands Neighbourhood Watch (PNW), the initiative aims to improve the accuracy of crime statistics in the area by encouraging community members to submit reports directly to the watch.

Chairman Gary le Roux said the campaign is focused on gathering verified data rather than serving as an emergency response platform.

“This is not a response or call-for-assistance mechanism. It is purely for community members to report incidents to us so that we can verify, log, and formally record them. Once approved, those incidents become part of our monthly crime statistics,” he said.

He said a small group of administrators vets every submission before being added to the organisation’s operating system.

The system, secured through multi-factor authentication and supported by artificial intelligence, compiles detailed monthly reports including graphs, heat maps, peak days and times, and trend forecasts, said Mr Le Roux.

“All the information we collect is community-based and not police data. The more residents report through the campaign, the more accurate and valuable our analysis becomes.”

PNW works alongside private security companies and residents to strengthen crime prevention efforts in the area. 

Mr Le Roux acknowledged that, as with any new initiative, building momentum takes time, but confirmed that some verified incidents have already been successfully logged.

Residents can submit reports via the campaign link: https://pnw.sentinel-command.co.za/saysomething.

Meanwhile, PNW is also calling for private and corporate support for its Navic ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) camera project. 

While the organisation does not disclose the number or locations of its cameras for security reasons, Mr Le Roux said the system has already contributed to several crime-fighting successes.

“These cameras play a major role in crime prevention. However, the technology is costly, and we rely heavily on sponsorship to expand our network,” he said.

Schools, shopping centres, hospitals, and local businesses are encouraged to contribute towards community safety initiatives in the areas where they operate. 

Sponsors are publicly acknowledged across PNW’s social media platforms, with monthly recognition posts highlighting contributors, he said.

“There are always plans to expand the Navic ANPR project. Community safety is a shared responsibility, and we encourage individuals and corporations to get involved.”

Those interested in supporting the camera project can contact PNW via chairman@pnwatch.co.za.

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