Whatsapp evolves into crime-fighting tool
THE national crime statistics released by police this week paint a bleak picture of the levels of crime in Kwazulu-natal.
With new and effective tools needed in the fight against crime, Whatsapp groups are becoming the new panic button for communities.
The instant messaging service is being used in the fight against crime and even ethekwini Municipality’s deputy mayor Fawzia Peer has turned to the service as a crime-fighting forum.
Peer says she administers multiple Whatsapp groups around Durban. This includes community groups in areas such as Isipingo, Chatsworth, Westville and Overport. She says she works together with authorities to ensure there is rapid response to forum alerts.
Metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Sewpersadh Parbhoo says thanks to technology and the use of Whatsapp, hijacked vehicles are recovered even before the owners realise their cars are stolen.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker says the police use the service to improve their efforts. They run multiple Whatsapp groups and work together with other role players, such as private security companies, community policing forums and tracking services, to ensure rapid response.
“Whatsapp has made a huge difference to the way we communicate and it’s costeffective and instant,” Naicker says.
Digital expert Arthur Goldstuck of World Wide Worx says instant messaging services have been around since the start of the popular MXIT service.