The Grassy Park police band visited Stephen Road Primary School in Ottery on Tuesday May 24
Grassy Park police station’s media liaison officer Warrant Officer Wynita Kleinsmith said the visit was to build relationships with the pupils and partnerships with communities to help in the fight against crime and gangsterism.
“The 630 pupils are mostly from the Ottery flats and Lotus River where gangsterism and drugs are prevalent and violence is a daily issue these children are confronted with. We entertained the pupils and teachers but also gave them safety tips and we discouraged them from joining gangs and using drugs. We also encouraged them to choose positive rolemodels and we told them about the different careers in the police force,” said Warrant Officer Kleinsmith.
Grassy Park police station commander, Colonel Shawn van Wyk commended his staff for the visit to the school.
“We are working around the clock to prevent and combat crime. Building stronger relationships and partnering with schools in the Grassy Park precinct forms part of the plan of partnership policing,” said Colonel Van Wyk.