Benoni SAPS placed under surveillance

The system was sponsored by PHS COPS Security to the tune of R18 000, after they were approached by the Benoni CPF, following a request from the police.

The system was initially installed many years ago, but had become redundant.

All the contacts points with customers and around the station have now been placed under surveillance, with eight cameras and a monitor room forming part of the system.

Speaking at the project handover, at the police station on October 10, acting station commander Col Martin van Nieuwenhuizen called the surveillance system an enormous and valuable tool.

“The majority of police officers appreciate this tool, as it will protect the integrity of the officers and the public and improve service delivery,” he said.

“It will show how we work, how we operate and how we are addressed by the broader community that comes in here to seek our services.

Van Nieuwenhuizen added that, since the system started operating, he can positively say there is change in attitude.

“There are no gatherings around the station that we notice any more, there is an atmosphere change and a change in service delivery,” he said.

Benoni SAPS cluster commander Brig Poobalan Subbiah said that when they looked at the request for the upgrading of the CCTV it had many intentions.

“We realised that we can’t just deal with complaints and complaints against SAPS members, as there are people who come to the police station drunk, some violent and aggressive,” he said.

”They come here and even in the goodness in which our members attend to them there is always negativity that comes out of this, so we said let’s work the internal… everything inside first.

”And, if we show our members where they are going wrong, we can mature them in terms of delivering and make them better police officers.”

Subbiah said this is what’s lacking in most government entities as, when you phone, you don’t necessarily get better communication out of them.

“We are trying to inculcate this so that we can have a better approach and response from the community,” he explained.

Subbiah added that the police also have an image to protect and to advocate.

“The CCTV camera is one instrument that can make a big difference and, in the next couple of days, even the community will realise that they can’t just come and make accusations at members of the police,” he said.

“They can’t just fight members irresponsibly.,” he said.

He thanked PHS COPS CEO Lionel Marks for the sponsorships and the “best and working” Benoni CPF for the efforts.

Benoni CPF executive chairman Reza Patel said that, in many instances, the police service is under-resourced.

“So, in order to improve and strengthen the quality of service and for police to do their jobs accurately, they need the tools, and the implementation of this system is such a tool,” he added.

He said the installations of this system allows a step ahead, in order to manage this.

Technically, said Patel, the words are turn around in attitude.

“There will be a happier and cleaner environment and a more professional environment,” said the executive chairman.

In not so many words, PHS COPS CEO Lionel Marks said he was approached by Patel to help.

“We all work together in combating crime; we are always willing to help the police and the CPF.

“Hopefully we can fight the crime if we can always see what goes around in the station,” said Marks.

Deputy chief whip in the Ekurhuleni metro Ebrahim Motara welcomed the private sector partnership and said this is what the country needed.

“We can’t have a policeman for every person, so partnerships are very important,” said Motara.

He said he knew that Ekurhuleni was looking to get all towns on CCTV cameras, like in Aberton.

Motara hopes the system won’t be vandalised and that it will be used effectively to monitor the station, to ensure that things don’t go wrong.