Pretoria - North West MEC for Public Safety Howard Yawa has cautioned against the "inclusion" of criminals in Community Policing Forums (CPFs).
"Though we have prioritised the re-launch of dysfunctional CPFs, in our haste to revitalise the structures, we should make certain that criminals are not imbedded in these structures," MEC Yawa said.
He said individuals needed to be thoroughly screened and that no CPF member should have a criminal record.
"There should be no place in these structures for those who hunt with the hounds and run with the hares.
"The battle lines are drawn, a friend to a criminal cannot be a friend to a law abiding citizen," he said.
He added that any policeman who associates with criminals, compromised efforts to win the war against crime.
