The proliferation of social media platforms must be seen as an advantage when it comes to crime prevention, says Agnieszka Gryn, Regional Executive at Fidelity ADT’s Inland region. The value of these platforms, however, rests with the members of the group and the quality of information shared.

“We’re living in an age in which ordinary citizens are invited to be active participants in the fight against crime. Knowledge is power when it comes to crime prevention and successes hinge on the sharing of intelligence, so harnessing the power of social media is imperative.”

“These platforms are, however, not without their challenges,” Gryn adds. “The most common being the posting of unverified information (mostly hearsay or urban legends) which spread like wild fire and often create unwarranted panic. Gryn says that at a recent SAPS meeting, the South African Police Services noted with concern various social media posts perpetuating false information.  SAPS have noted that any false posts will be viewed in a very serious light and the police will consider legal action on these matters.

SAPS encourage members of the community to use social media platforms responsibly and sensibly when posting. “It is important to realise that a communication of this nature is instantaneously spread to other persons. Users of social media must carefully consider the truthfulness of information before they decide to share it with other social media users,” SAPS noted.

According to South African law, it does not require a person to be the originator of the content of a communication to be held liable. The repeating or sharing of a post is sufficient. A person may be equally liable for another person’s posts where that person knows that they have been tagged in the other person’s post and allows their name to be used, and fails to take steps to disassociate or distance themselves from that post.

“In Fidelity ADT’s experience, the biggest benefit of these networks if used responsibly is that personal security and related issues are kept top of mind. Successes are also shared and this fosters goodwill between communities and those who are there to protect them,” Gryn says.

Fidelity ADT’s Don’ts in the (social media) fight against crime

• Don’t post any personal information.
• Don’t post irrelevant information (advertising, lost pets, road blocks, speed traps or any council issues).
• Don’t post “confirmed” or “thanks” or “received” once you’ve read a message.
• Don’t post unverified information. Crime warnings or tip-offs received from other sources must be sent to the group administrator for verification.
• Don’t engage in argumentative comments or use foul language on the group.
• Don’t try to be a hero. Members of the public should never get involved in a potentially dangerous situation. Contact the SAPS or your security company to investigate should you see anything suspicious.

“Social media definitely has a role to play and it’s important that the community actively participates in crime prevention. However, in order to get the results we strive for, members of such groups need to be responsible and respectful at all times. There are ramifications for members who consistently disobey the rules and these could even be legal depending on the seriousness of the case,” Gryn concludes. 

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COMPILED ON BEHALF OF FIDELITY ADT BY CATHY FINDLEY PUBLIC RELATIONS. FOR MEDIA QUERIES CONTACT JACQUI RORKE ON 011 463 6372 OR EMAIL This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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