New project will flush out crime and grime
Heather Rorick is excited about the impending implementation of a community improvement project in Helen Joseph and surrounding roads.
A COMMUNITY improvement project (CIP) is to be implemented in Helen Joseph and surrounding roads in an effort to curb the crime and grime in the area.
The idea was the brainchild of Heather Rorick, chairperson of the Bulwer Community Safety Forum, who said the increase in crime, in particularly violent crime, needed more aggressive measures to be implemented to fight crime and grime in the area.
“We needed to come up with something which would clean up the area and flush out crime. We have had reports of an incident of crime every day on this stretch of road and recently a businessman was murdered. Businesses, especially the restaurants in the area are losing customers as people no longer want to come to the area. Something needed to be done. I looked at various options and feel this is about the best we can do,” she said.
She said the CIP would run on similar grounds to the Florida Road UIP and Umhlanga UIP. She held various meetings with restaurants in the road and said the majority of restaurants have come on board. She hopes to expand this to include other businesses in the road. Rorick said the CIP would include Helen Joseph Road, a section of Umbilo Road between Helen Joseph and Clark Roads and up Clark Road. She has also been in talks with the municipality to expand to Che Guevara Road in future.
“Everything is in place to move forward with the CIP and we’re in the final stages before we implement the project. We are just waiting for last minute things to be finalised. A lot of businesses are keen to get on board and I am hoping more will come forward in future. I’m excited to have Metro Police, SAPS and the municipality on board and feel there are a lot of positives going forward,” she said.
Rorick said there would be a dedicated armed response vehicle and security officer patrolling the CIP area 24/7 and community ambassadors would be placed along the roads to flush out illegal car guards. The community ambassadors will be vetted and have criminal record checks, will be trained and put in uniform. They will have radios in order to keep in touch with the armed response vehicle.
“The community ambassadors will not only be the eyes and ears on the ground, but they will also be responsible for keeping their own turf clean. They will be given black bags and brooms and will keep the area around them clean. We will also run competitions for the cleanest patch, to motivate them,” she said.
Rorick said a manager will be appointed to work with the security company and all stakeholders, Metro Police, SAPS and the municipality, and there will be an investigating division to work with SAPS and Metro to investigate crime areas covered by the CIP.
The CIP will start in Helen Joseph Road first and will be implemented in phases to other roads as soon as other businesses join the programme.
“So far there are only businesses on board, however at a later stage if residents want to join the CIP we will look at it,” said Rorick.
To find out more about the CIP, contact Heather on 074 203 2792.
