As shopping centres and malls are expected to have high volumes of shoppers throughout the festive season, Honeydew police brought in student policemen from the Tshwane Training College to conduct visible policing in busy malls on 1 December.
Thirty- six of them were divided into small groups, and senior officers such as Captain Balan Muthan of the Honeydew Police station, led the students around and gave instructions as they toured centres around the policing precinct.
The first visit was to Northgate Shopping Centre, where the “would-be” sergeants and detectives of tomorrow, were shown around and introduced to centre security and technical staff. Some student constables were even lucky to receive a thumbs-up from children.
“We have the Tshwane Training College students around, performing visible duties as informed by the National Acting Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane. This also forms part of our festive season drive as we plan on beefing up policing in and around our shopping centres,” Muthan said.
He added that the training was part of giving students exposure to the real policing world. “The motive was also to give the students the needed ground work experience, and a chance to work along with senior police officers like myself,” Muthan explained.
The spokesman also mentioned that their next stop would be at Clearwater Mall followed by other centres in the Fourways area.
