Northern line train station safety initiative gathers steam

A PILOT project rolled out along northern line train stations will attempt to stem the tide of increasing crime around transport hubs, according to senior provincial officials.

Metrorail Regional manager Richard Walker, Community Safety MEC Dan Plato and Transport and Public Works MEC Donald Grant inspected the pilot safety project at Parow station yesterday.

The three bodies have partnered in a safety initiative, launched in April, which involves training youths at risk of entering into crime as commuter safety ambassadors. They undergo a three- month empowerment training programme focusing on physical, emotional, mental, energetic and spiritual development.

Training takes place at the Chrysalis Academy in Tokai. About 50 graduates have been deployed as commuter safety ambassadors at Bellville, Parow and Tygerberg stations. They have so far confiscated weapons and identified problem areas.

The initiative is in conjunction with the Voortrekker Road Corridor Improvement District, whose focus is to enhance security at Parow and Bellville transport interchanges. This followed growing complaints on crime experienced by rail commuters. Plato described Parow as a “hot spot” of criminal activity.

In a joint statement Plato, Grant and Walker said crime statistics between 2009/2010 and 2013/2014 showed a dramatic rise. Robberies had increased by 241 percent in Parow, while robberies with aggravating circumstances had gone up by 70 percent.

“Safety is everyone’s responsibility. We’re increasingly facing people unhappy with the service they receive from police and metro police and government. So we need to do whatever we can to improve the levels of safety,” Plato said.

If the pilot continues to be successful, the department of community safety will apply for additional funding from transport and public works.