Guardian Angels South Africa

The Guardian Angels is not only the WORLDS LARGEST AND OLDEST NON-PROFIT SAFETY PATROL ORGANIZATION; it is a profound social and political concept.  Our premise is that ordinary citizens can organize and work together to solve social problems.  This simple idea strikes at the very heart of most political and ideological theories about the role, rights, power, and responsibilities of the individual.  Guardian Angels recognise that the burden of solving social problems should not rest on the shoulders of the government or the police.  We do not believe that private companies should address all our social problems and needs.  The concept is so powerful that in our twenty-eight year history no Guardian Angel has been convicted criminally or civilly, anywhere in the world for any offence relating to patrol activities.  Ever!!!

Guardian Angels carry no weapons and are searched prior to every patrol. The prospect of performing unarmed patrols and arrests in high-threat situations is something that is daunting to most police officers, and yet these young people are able to contribute significantly to safety in their communities. 

A Guardian Angels patrol is, as Crime Prevention operations go, quite modest.  It consists of a minimum of 6 members.  It carries no weapons, does not appear dangerous and walks about on foot in highly visible uniforms.  No armoured vehicles, pepper spray, knives or offensive gear.  With a top speed in the region of a sprint and no aerial divisions, it can’t fly, race or shoot.  But in combat, the Guardian Angels patrol defies logic.  Its configuration and preparation allows for extreme tactics, even against armed and unprincipled opponents.  It can move with extreme efficiency, disorientating suspects, sowing confusion in its wake, taking down a suspect with lightning speed.  Despite its light ‘weight’, it can withstand more powerful opponents, and perform with great efficiency.  Patrols form confusing formations (for criminals), use mental ‘switches’ to control attackers and perform unthinkably agile manoeuvres, usually without any violence.

There are several things that set Guardian Angels apart from other organisations.  Our training is intensive and continuous.  Police officers face danger every day, yet they seldom train.  Neighbourhood Watches have a week of training and then they are regarded as competent.  Guardian Angels take at least three months to graduate, but our training continues for as long as we are members.  We are trained in basic first aid, CPR, criminal law, conflict resolution, communication, and basic martial arts.  Members are paired up and follow the directions of a Patrol Leader.  Members, however, are allowed to do whatever they feel is lawful and necessary in case their lives are endangered or fear serious personal injury.

Since we are so visible in our red berets, criminals rarely commit crimes in our presence.  The Safety Patrols therefore do not try to spend all their time making arrests but rather try to deter crime and build relations with people.  The consistency of activity and professionalism varies from chapter to chapter since the organization does not receive any major funding and there is limited centralized organization.  Chapters operate more like franchise networks supporting each other regionally.  However, minimum standards of activity and professionalism are required and monitored to remain in operation.  A Guardian Angels chapter working with a local police community service centre can have a massive impact on street crime in an area and even more specifically on the feelings of safety of the general public.

Guardian Angels also deliver other services.  We have youth programs for children as young as 6 years old, teaching them about bullying and anti-violence.  Other programs are to teach teenagers about community involvement such as graffiti removal projects.  Some programs help with Internet Safety; others involve homeless people in crime prevention, converting them into Guardian Angels.  There are school safety programs that teach educators about violence and safety and programs that show elderly and retired people ways in which to ensure their safety.  Guardian Angels will help plant community gardens, remove graffiti, clean up a vacant lot and put pressure on the local council to replace broken street lights.  Information that we receive during a patrol is routinely filtered through to the local police CSC.

We ensure safer schools, humane conditions for our homeless, reduced drug abuse both through direct action and by serving as role models for youth, dramatically reduced new blood for gangs through recruiting the same members they try to recruit, improved marketability of a city as international tourists recognize the uniforms, reduced crime in all areas of deployment, a beautified city and increased sense of community among inhabitants of the area.  We are also ready for immediate deployment as first aiders and emergency response trained volunteers during natural disasters and terrorist attacks.