Mitchell’s Plain police launch crime hotspot policing initiative to enhance community safety
Mitchell's Plain police launched its crime hotspot policing project in Tafelsig on Wednesday, July 2.
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Mitchell’s Plain police launched its crime hotspot policing initiative in Tafelsig on Wednesday, July 2.
Senior provincial police officers, including provincial visible policing head, Brigadier Zukiswa Matumbu, Mitchell’s Plain police chief, Brigadier Brian Muller, and residents gathered outside the Oosterzicht Church hall for the launch.
They were joined by representatives from the Mitchell's Plain Community Police Forum, Community in Blue, Tafelsig Neighbourhood Watch members and City officials.
Both Brigadiers appealed to the community to reclaim their streets. Addressing the community, Brigadier Matumbu appealed to all men to stop watching women lead the fight against crime.
Most neighbourhood watch members on the frontline are often women, she said. "Where are the men, aphi Amadoda," she added.
Tafelsig is the biggest of all the Mitchell’s Plain police station sectors.
According to Brigadier Muller, police have recovered 57 firearms in the Tafelsig area in the last three quarters. They plan to intensify police visibility in the area, he said.
“Four hotspots have been identified for Mitchell's Plain, one in Beacon Valley and three in Tafelsig. This is based on the most serious crimes,” said Brigadier Muller.
Representatives from the Mitchell's Plain Community Police Forum, Community in Blue, and Tafelsig Neighbourhood Watch members were among those who joined a peaceful march through Tafelsig on Wednesday, 2 July.
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Targeted patrols of 15 to 20 minutes will be conducted in the identified hotspot areas. The number of patrols is directly linked to the number of identified crimes committed during both hot and cold times, he said.
Brigadier Muller said the police will incorporate proven operational strategies and evidence-based policing (EBP) to enhance their effectiveness.
Historical data will be used to determine the hotspots and frequency of incidents and patrols needed. They will also monitor patrols against the crimes committed to assess impact.
“EBP is not a specific policing model but rather a framework for improving existing approaches by systematically evaluating their impact, Brigadier Muller said.
Ward 92 councillor Norman Adonis welcomed the launch of the crime hotspot policing initiative.
“I am very excited to see the fruits of this initiative as the launch was exactly where we have major crime issues, which include murder, drug smuggling and robbery. This hotspot, in particular, has brought tears to many mothers whose children were killed in crossfires,” Mr Adonis said.
The crime hotspot policing launch in Tafelsig was concluded with a peaceful march through the area along with residents and the Beacon Hill High School drill squad.
Image: Supplied
The launch of crime hotspot policing in Mitchell’s Plain follows on the provincial launch of the national police’s operation Shanela 2 last week.
Brigadier Muller said that operation Shanela 2 will be rolled out across 11 police stations in areas with a high prevalence of gang violence, alongside additional deployments of the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement manpower and resources.
“The main focus of these additional deployments from the police and the City of Cape Town is to reduce the number of gang-related murders and attempted murders.
He said operation Shanela 2 will take a five-pillar approach to stem the tide of gang violence in communities. The approach includes intelligence gathering and analysis, detection and organised crime, and a communication and liaison approach.