Shot Spotter ‘success leads to new contract’

THE Shot Spotter programme has been awarded a new contract until June 30, 2025 after the first phase of three years resulted in 67 arrests in gang-riddled communities such as Hanover Park and Manenberg.

From 2016 until April 2019, 19 721 gunshots were detected by Shot Spotter and 68 firearms and more than 1 000 rounds were recovered, which the City believes saved over 200 lives.

The City said convictions were not primarily dependent on the gunfire detection system but on the criminal justice system.

The Good Party’s Suzette Little raised concerns the programme had not yielded much success in light of the R31.8 million spent.

Gillion Bosman, the DA’s provincial spokesperson on police oversight and community safety said all resources were needed to reduce gang violence in such communities.

Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith told Weekend Argus they were optimistic about the new phase after the first one saw much success.

“Just over 70% of the firearms recovered were from the area where Shot Spotter was deployed.

“Sixty-seven arrests in 7km2 is a good statistic which was explained to Councillor Little in the portfolio committee where her comments were rejected by officials and councillors from the governing administration and opposition alike.

“Shot Spotter increased our firearm recovery by a factor of five.

“The City does not believe that it is possible to place a price on the lives of people in Manenberg and Hanover Park and we are proud that we’ve been able to bring the best technology to add to the fight against crime in some of our most vulnerable communities.

“It is our intention to install the gunfire system into areas, as directed by crime statistics supplied by the South African Police and with their guidance.

“The Shot Spotter gunfire detection system added huge value, hence the starting of the process to reinstate it. Shot Spotter ... allowed police to respond to every single gunshot incident, as opposed to one out of eight or one out of 13 as had previously been the case due to low levels of gunshot reporting and the difficulty in identifying an accurate location in operational environments.

“Not only did the system allow for a more frequent response to gunshots, but it also meant a faster and more accurate response. Our responses led officers to in excess of 200 injured persons whose lives were most likely saved due to the swift reaction and it also prevented the extended retaliation shootings often experienced when we don’t get the call of shootings in the area.

“When we assessed its value to determine whether it should be reinstated after the initial pilot programme, it was estimated that the system increased our firearm recovery rate five times over. From 2016 until April 2019, 19 721 gunshots were detected through Shot Spotter. Sixty-eight firearms were recovered during this period and in excess of 1 000 live rounds.

Little said in her portfolio address the programme had not been successful.

“Residents of Hanover Park and Manenberg are set to again see the roll-out of the City of Cape Town’s gunshot detection system despite very poor results in its use to fight crime.

“The first phase of the project ran from 2016 to 2019 and cost taxpayers R31.8m.

“During these three years, the multimillion-rand technology recorded 6 688 incidents with a total of 18 777 shots fired, but only 67 arrests were made as a direct result of its use, while it is unclear how many cases saw an actual conviction.”

Bosman said more had to be done to reduce the gunfire.

“The residents of Hanover Park and Manenberg deserve all the tools in our crime-fighting arsenal and for as long as we do not have a police system that is able to effectively deal with gun crime in that area, the DA in the Western Cape will continue to deploy innovations that assist with both SAPS and the people of the city.”