Fighting crime in the CBD

Cape Town CPF ready to work hard during the festive season when crime escalates

WHEN the festive season arrives, we all become a little bit more chilled and forget the dangers that may be around the corner. Cape Town community policing forum (CPF) chairman Marc Truss believes this has an impact on crime.

“Whether shopping is left on the back seat of the car or we carry excessive amounts of cash in our wallets or purses, we tend to let our hair down in different ways; this all depends on what year you may have had,” said Truss.

Each law enforcement agency puts forward its planning for the season, taking into consideration several factors such as crime trends, threats and hot spots.

At times, several of the agencies strategise together in approaching the season in a holistic manner, explained Truss.

“I can’t say that we all of a sudden get a spike in criminal acts; it’s how well the public behaves and how well we, together with all the partners and the various law enforcement agencies, work to reduce such acts of criminal intent.”

He said the CPF saw a fair amount of begging, ATM activity and lots of basic transgressions by members of the public while in their vehicles, which indicated that society is not very law-abiding.

Cape Town Central has six sectors, each with its problems to deal with, but common to all of them is theft out of vehicles.

“Main areas have high traffic areas and has footfall which brings about common robbery sometimes with a weapon. The sectors that have entertainment has common robbery and snatch-and-grab issues to deal with and drugs.”

Truss said that from time to time the CBD did experience serious crimes such as murder, assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm and armed robbery, but this does not occur very often.

Ward 115 councillor Dave Bryant said crime levels in the CBD had greatly reduced since the early 2000s. The majority of incidents occurred late at night and early in the mornings.

“Our key challenge is offences like aggressive begging and other antisocial behaviours. We have recently set up a unit in co-ordination with the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID) and this has had a positive impact in reducing incidents of aggressive begging.”

The CCID, which covers the traditional downtown, said Cape Town Station was not a contact crime station but rather a property crime station.

Muneeb Hendricks, manager of safety and security for the CCID, said most of the crime affected possessions and did not involve violent offences such as murder, rape and hijacking.

“This is largely due to the visible presence of CCID public safety officers within the CCID footprint, joint law enforcement agency operations and solid community relationships between the SAPS, neighbourhood watches, City of Cape Town Law Enforcement and the general public, built over the years.”

Nicola Jowell, a resident in the CBD, said she remained concerned about being robbed on the street or being a victim of a house robbery.

“However, I know that by living in the city bowl the chances of this happening to me are extremely limited.

“But, the chances of my car being broken into are significantly higher. Although no crime is a good crime, on a balance of concerns a car break-in is the least traumatic.

“We need to target intervention in the market for stolen goods. Currently, the reselling of stolen property is far too easy.

“The increased number of people in the city is, of course, a concern coupled with higher alcohol consumption.”

Our chief challenge is offences like aggressive begging and other antisocial behaviours

Marc Truss

CPF chairperson