Thanks to the commitment of Team Langebaan and its partners, the local police station’s trauma room has been refurbished into a more friendly and non-threatening space to provide a supportive environment for victims of serious crimes, gender-based violence (GBV), domestic violence, sexual offences and child abuse.
Officially known as a Victim-Friendly Room (VFR), this dedicated, private and child-friendly centre will be managed by Miennie van Rooyen on behalf of Team Langebaan’s newly established Gender and Child Protection Organisation.
It was officially handed over to the Langebaan police on Friday, 31 October.
Team Langebaan is a community-focused organisation in Langebaan known primarily as a neighbourhood watch group dedicated to improving community safety and well-being through volunteer efforts.
It also encompasses various projects, such as the “Feed the Need” programme and has diversified into a portfolio of initiatives that support the community beyond crime prevention.
The Team Langebaan Neighbourhood Watch (TLNHW) is the core group, founded in 2011 to combat crime. It operates in close collaboration with the Langebaan police and Community Policing Forum (CPF).
Members of Team Langebaan’s involvement at the VFR will be entirely voluntary.
The VFR will provide a temporary safe space where victims’ statements can be taken and immediate emotional support and debriefing offered.
Victims will be referred to government and non-governmental organisations, including medical facilities, legal aid, shelters, and professional trauma counselling services, ensuring victims receive holistic support beyond the police station.
The existence and use of the VFR forms part of the police’s commitment to victim empowerment, ensuring victims’ rights, enshrined in the Constitution and the Charter of Victims’ Rights, are protected.
The child-friendly room at the VFR features toys and books, along with a wall of painted characters from children’s animation movies, to create a comforting environment.
Team Langebaan would like to thank their sponsors and the volunteers who put in the grind to create this room.
A plaque dedicated to the memory of Captain Noël Minnaar, the longtime Langebaan Station Commander who recently passed away, was unveiled.
Team Langebaan continuously makes a real difference for real people.
You must be logged in to post a comment.