War room for Berea SAPS
A war room at Berea SAPS will help security companies get more involved in fighting crime.
MORNINGSIDE resident, Grant Smith, followed the lead from Durban North SAPS, and has opened a war room at Berea SAPS.
According to Smith, chairman of the sector 2 safety community forum, he saw how successful the initiative was in Durban North and decided it would be a good idea to have the same in the Berea area.
“This is a join venture between SAPS and security companies in the area to allow the transfer of information between security companies and the police so the community can be assisted more efficiently. For example, in the event of a housebreaking in progress, accidents or suspicious people, the security companies are in direct contact and can get information from the police through a radio in the community service centre, and can get to the scene to help the police,” said Smith.
The war room is also linked to the Montepelier Road and Rapson Road neighbourhood watches and the idea is to expand the project to get ambulance and trauma counsellors on the same frequency so there's no delay in communication.
He said local security companies had sponsored the two way radio in the community centre at Berea SAPS, however he said as this was a community-driven project, there was also a need for more sponsors for items such as a notice board and a white board.
Smith said at a later stage the idea was to have a computer set up to monitor CCTV cameras in the area to combat crime.
“There are a lot of Enforce watchmen and Blue cameras up in the area. The idea is for SAPS to monitor the area and put in resources where required. SAPS is very motivated by this project and has put their full support behind it. I couldn't do it without support, it makes a big difference,” he said.
Grant has been the chairperson of the sector 2 SCF for the past two years and also trains police dogs. He is the former chairperson of the Cape Town CPF, where he served for three years, and two years as secretary.
“We need to see the way forward and take the initiative, if we don't get together as a community and get things going, we won't see a solution to crime in the area,” he said.
