The safety of friends and family in the community starts off with smaller connected networks that are able to assist when a dangerous situation arises.
These smaller networks connect individuals to a larger group of people who can offer assistance. This according to eblockwatch founder and Bryanston resident, André Snyman, who has assisted many people within smaller networks.
Within these networks, Snyman aims to protect the helpless when they are in a situation such as a road-block with possible corrupt officers.
In this weeks edition of How Secure Are You?, an online and print security feature in partnership with the Sandton Chronicle and eblockwatch, Snyman discusses how it and a small network will be able to assist in a situation and monitor your movements.
He said that when you sign up with eblockwatch, members allow certain permissions that will enable him to find a person without following conventional routes.
He said there are several ways to ensure your safety when at a roadblock or a police stop. “The officer that might be corrupt or aggressive towards you and might try and solicit a bribe from you.”
He said their modus operandi is to make you feel vulnerable, and when you are in a situation that makes you uncomfortable, there are ways to get out of it. Snyman broke it down into a few steps. “I have a card in my wallet that states ‘police on record’ that I give to the officers.” He explained that this informs officers that they are being recorded.
“It’s part of eblockwatch’s methods to catch corrupt officers.”
Snyman said the second method is to create small groups with eblockwatch on it. “In this group, you can share your location when driving home. When you are at a roadblock, you send the location and a message with the police vehicle’s description and the call sign on the side of it.”
He said it’s important to only do this after you have been stopped. “When the officers come to the car, tell them that you are recording this stop and give the details of the stop on this group.”
Your connected network is then able to follow up on where you are and if that officer does anything wrong, it is on record and the officer can now be held accountable.
To register with eblockwatch visit www.eblockwatch.co.za
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