Be mindful of your surroundings, and be sensible. That way you won’t become a victim of crime in the CBD. This is the message of the CCID’s annual crime-prevention campaign, “Stash it, don’t flash it”, now in full swing.
The CCID’s Safety and Security department launched the campaign during the second week in December with the focus on three problematic crimes in the CBD: pickpocketing, theft out of motor vehicles and ATM fraud.
To get the message across, activations are being held in public spaces and in front of hotels, with tens of thousands of flyers containing safety tips being handed out to tourists and locals. CCID Safety & Security is also looking at getting businesses in the Central City to support the campaign by displaying “lollipop” stands in their foyers warning tourists about the three crimes mentioned above and the modus operandi of criminals.
While it’s early days, Safety & Security manager Muneeb “Mo” Hendricks says he is confident the campaign will succeed in creating awareness around crime prevention.
PUTTING SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE
As with all CCID campaigns, the “Stash it, don’t flash it” campaign has various elements to it to ensure it’s effective. Mo explains that his team has also put additional measures in place to complement the campaign, which is scheduled to run until March 2020. These include:
1. Extending the deployment of CCID teams
The CCID’s 45-strong team of Safety Ambassadors, which was due to remain on the streets until the end of December, will now operate until June 2020 following its success in addressing antisocial behaviour, petty offences and creating a visible presence in the CBD. In addition, the CCID’s 12-man Displaced People’s Unit, which deals with land invasions, will also remain in place until June 2020.
2. Deploying Tourism Monitors
Tourism Monitors, funded by the Department of Tourism, are being deployed to several areas and attractions to enhance the experience and wellbeing of local and international tourists. In the CBD, 16 trained monitors are being deployed and managed by the CCID’s Safety & Security department to promote the Central City and educate tourists about ATM fraud.
Operations director at The Tourism and Business Institute of Southern Africa (TTBISA), Zakiyya Murtuza-Peerun, says: “This is the first time the programme is being rolled out in the Western Cape. Our aim is to ensure that, within the next 12 months, the monitors make enough of an impact to ensure a continuous rollout of monitors nationally.
“This will not only help to reduce crime but increase the tourism customer satisfaction ratio.” The institute is the official project manager for the Western Cape Tourism Monitors Programme on behalf of the National Department of Tourism.
OTHER SAFETY MEASURES
The CCID has safety measures in place throughout the year. During the Festive Season they entail the following:
- CCID teams of 300 Public Safety Officers (PSOs) will patrol the streets as usual (90 patrol during the day, 70 patrol at night, three manage the control room, 24 work on the vehicular response team).
- Joint agency operations between the CCID, SAPS, the City’s Metro Police, Cyclops, Law Enforcement and Traffic departments to curb crime.
- The CCID’s 20 City Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs), as well as six Traffic Wardens, will be deployed as usual to assist with daytime traffic violations and congestion.
- The CCID’s partnership with the Western Cape Government’s Department of Community Safety will continue to see a team of student ambassadors from the Chrysalis Academy deployed during the day in The Company’s Garden to provide a safety presence. Similarly, a team of Chrysalis student ambassadors will continue to be deployed at certain hot-spot ATMs to prevent ATM fraud.
The “Stash it, don’t flash” it campaign will also feature prominently on the CCID’s social pages. Stay tuned to www.facebook.com/CapeTownCCID. And also check out our top tips for staying safe in the Central City here.
IMAGES: CCID