The City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate will bolster neighbourhood watches with a further R500 000 allocation for equipment to expand the budget for this financial year.
‘Neighbourhood watches (NHWs) are an integral part of our crime prevention strategy in communities. The watch members give up their time to make their neighbourhoods safer by being visible and deterring crime,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The R500 000 is in addition to R2 685 000 already allocated to neighbourhood watches for equipment and support services.
There are more than 228 accredited NHWs around the city with more than 6 871 members collectively.
Equipment for the NHWs include hand radios and radio base stations for their watch rooms, reflective bibs, torches, bicycles, night vision equipment and jackets amongst a growing list.
‘Neighbourhood watches make an impact in their areas and help us and the South African Police Service by raising the alarm on suspicious activity, identifying stolen property, doing home security surveys and adding to a sense of safety and responsibility,’ said Alderman Smith.
Members are provided with training as well as vital information on patrolling strategies and providing support during disasters.
NHW members can also become members of the Volunteer Law Enforcement Auxiliary Service (LEAS).
In 2013, the Safety and Security Directorate launched LEAS, with prospective volunteers encouraged to first join their local neighbourhood watch before being recruited as a LEAS volunteer.
Although the Law Enforcement department’s primary role is by-law enforcement and addressing traffic violations, they are playing an increasingly larger role in joining the local communities to prevent crime.
The public can anonymously report any suspicious activity to the Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone, or 107 from a landline.
Complaints of non-compliance with Covid-19 regulations can be directed to the City’s compliance hotline on 021 444 3582.