The CCID’s crime-prevention strategy over the festive season is paying off with a decrease in the three main crimes committed in the CBD.
This is the view of CCID manager of Safety & Security, Muneeb “Mo” Hendricks, who attributes the drop in crime to the deployment of additional Public Security Officers (PSOs) as well as the launch of the CCID’s crime-prevention campaign aimed at educating the public.
Says Mo: “While the South African Police Service (SAPS) is the custodian of crime stats, our initial assessments reveal a decrease in all the three categories that we target, namely pickpocketing, theft out of motor vehicles and ATM fraud.
“This festive season, we have also noticed a change in behaviour where people appear to be more law-abiding. There appear to be fewer people drinking in public or attempting to party on street level which has also led to less anti-social behaviour and less aggressive confrontation between people.”
CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS PAYING OFF
The Safety & Security department has put additional safety measures in place over the festive period: the CCID’s 45-strong team of Safety Ambassadors – due to operate only until 31 December – is set to remain on the streets until June 2020 and the CCID’s 12-man Displaced People’s Unit, which deals with land invasions, will also remain in place until then.
The additional safety measures complement the launch of the department’s 2019-2020 crime-prevention campaign, “Stash it, don’t flash it”.
The campaign focuses on educating members of the public on the three problematic crimes with the goal of reducing the opportunity for criminals to commit crime in the first place.
Says Mo: “The City Centre is a popular venue for partygoers and others looking for entertainment and during the Festive Season even more people come to the CBD to enjoy themselves. Unfortunately, as in any busy global city, criminals also look for and find opportunities as people are in holiday mode and enjoying their ‘downtime’ and may not be as vigilant as usual.”
USUAL SAFETY MEASURES
Over the Festive Season, which runs until the end of March in the CBD, the CCID will continue with its usual safety measures, which include:
- Deploying 300 PSOs to patrol the streets day and night;
- Conducting joint agency operations with SAPS, the City’s Metro Police, Cyclops, Law Enforcement and Traffic departments, which include stop-and-search operations and motor-vehicle checkpoints, to curb crime in the CBD;
- Deploying 20 City Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs), as well as six Traffic Wardens – all funded by the CCID – to assist as usual with daytime traffic violations and congestion;
- Deploying its team of Student Ambassadors from the Chrysalis Academy to patrol the Company’s Garden to provide a safety presence as all as monitor hotspot ATMs in the CBD.
In the run-up to Christmas, from 1 to 19 December, the department achieved the following:
- Made 45 arrests together with the CCID’s Law Enforcement partners
- Conducted 10 462 crime-prevention initiatives
- CCID-funded Law Enforcement Officers issued 1 113 fines totalling R910 900
- Issued 2 411 warnings
- CCID-funded Traffic Wardens issued 328 fines with an estimated value of R226 900
- CCID’s Displaced People’s Unit removed 97 structures, removed 2 248 people, and made 2 121 visits with no actions
- CCID’s Aggressive Begging Team dealt with 2 303 incidents
- Tourism Monitors engaged with 1 400 people
While there’s still a long way to go till the end of the festive period, Mo is optimistic the decline in the major crime categories will continue. His advises the public to report safety issues no matter how small. “When we police the small issues, there are no big issues to worry about,” he says.
IMAGES: CCID