ALSO READ:\u00a0Hawk Academy welcomes Primrose SAPS<\/a><\/h4>\n\u201cWe help the officers with victims who have been traumatised by crime,\u201d explained Vanessa Smith when the GCN visited the centre recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cA person who has just been raped and a person who has been hijacked, for example, will both be traumatised, but in different ways and their reactions to the crimes will also be different.<\/p>
<\/div>\n\u201cWhere the rape victim may not want to be touched and will perhaps shy away from human contact, the hijacking victim may be angry and aggressive.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is difficult for the officers to deal with this in a charge office, with other people waiting for assistance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is where we would step in, we would take the victim to a victim-friendly room where they can feel safe and calm down before going through the process of reporting the crime.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team may also be called to the scene of a crime to help victims cope with what has happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could be called to the scene of a house break-in where a victim has been left traumatised,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n
Smith further stated that the centre will also help the victims to find the right counselling after a crime or help with guidance or advice about case investigations and court proceedings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a bridge for the victim to get from the trauma to closure and healing,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are there to support them and be a support structure for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also deal with social elements like a mother who has found drugs in her child\u2019s desk.\u201d<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:\u00a0Help victim empowerment centre restore hope in victims<\/a><\/h4>\nThere have recently been changes at the centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe centre was previously chaired by Hennie Steyn, who left for personal reasons, and I was voted in as interim chairperson,\u201d explained Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe and his wife Yolanda\u2019s resignations were a huge blow to the centre as we have so few volunteers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The centre now has 10 volunteers working at there.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt changes every day though,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all here out of our own free will and some people do not realise what volunteering involves.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll our volunteers receive in-house training and once we know they are serious and can handle the demands they are sent for external training.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith hopes to grow the volunteer numbers of the centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important requirement is that you are willing to give your time,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re rich or poor or what career you are in \u2013 none of that matters to a victim.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information on the Primrose SAPS Victim Empowerment Centre or if you are a victim of crime who needs assistance call the Primrose Police Station on 011 842 0500 or visit the centre at the police station in Poppy Road, Primrose.<\/p>\n
Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\nContact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nAlso follow us on:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere the rape victim may not want to be touched and will perhaps shy away from human contact, the hijacking victim may be angry and aggressive.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is difficult for the officers to deal with this in a charge office, with other people waiting for assistance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is where we would step in, we would take the victim to a victim-friendly room where they can feel safe and calm down before going through the process of reporting the crime.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team may also be called to the scene of a crime to help victims cope with what has happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could be called to the scene of a house break-in where a victim has been left traumatised,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n
Smith further stated that the centre will also help the victims to find the right counselling after a crime or help with guidance or advice about case investigations and court proceedings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a bridge for the victim to get from the trauma to closure and healing,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are there to support them and be a support structure for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also deal with social elements like a mother who has found drugs in her child\u2019s desk.\u201d<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:\u00a0Help victim empowerment centre restore hope in victims<\/a><\/h4>\nThere have recently been changes at the centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe centre was previously chaired by Hennie Steyn, who left for personal reasons, and I was voted in as interim chairperson,\u201d explained Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe and his wife Yolanda\u2019s resignations were a huge blow to the centre as we have so few volunteers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The centre now has 10 volunteers working at there.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt changes every day though,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all here out of our own free will and some people do not realise what volunteering involves.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll our volunteers receive in-house training and once we know they are serious and can handle the demands they are sent for external training.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith hopes to grow the volunteer numbers of the centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important requirement is that you are willing to give your time,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re rich or poor or what career you are in \u2013 none of that matters to a victim.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information on the Primrose SAPS Victim Empowerment Centre or if you are a victim of crime who needs assistance call the Primrose Police Station on 011 842 0500 or visit the centre at the police station in Poppy Road, Primrose.<\/p>\n
Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\nContact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nAlso follow us on:<\/p>\n
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Also follow us on:<\/p>\n
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