eThekwini Municipality is putting more than R5.3 million behind a Smart Policing Project as the City moves to strengthen its Metro Police operations and ramp up its response to public safety concerns.

The R5 345 700 budget was among several resolutions adopted by the municipality’s Executive Committee (Exco) at its meeting on Tuesday, September 15.

The City said the funding forms part of efforts to modernise law enforcement operations and strengthen public safety across the municipality.

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“The decision will enable the municipality to align the project’s budget with its detailed procurement requirements, and support the establishment of a purpose-built Command Centre (Bram Fischer Road), which will serve as the central hub for co-ordinating and managing critical Metro Police operational functions,” the City said.

Additionally, the Smart Policing Project is aimed at transforming Metro Police operations through the use of technology to improve operational efficiency, address capacity and staff shortages, reduce human error, strengthen evidence management, and enhance revenue recovery.

The Exco decision is subject to Council approval for the amount to be included in the 2026/2027 Adjustment Budget.

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