The organisation has spread to about 40 suburbs, including Norwood, Highlands North, Waverley, Linksfield and Sandton, where a staggering 85 percent average reduction in crime has been the result of proactive security initiatives, focus on community unity, and reliance on local knowledge.
“In Glenhazel, kids are walking on the streets,” said Observatory resident Noa Sussman, who is lending her efforts to promote CAP.
Managed by a board of volunteer members and founders who are residents of CAP areas, the organisation is run by paid professionals, from legal experts, analysts and call operators in the organisation’s centralised Incident Command and Control Centre, to the ‘boots on the ground’, where average vehicle response time is 3.5 minutes.
“Who wouldn’t want to have them?” said Sussman.
Observatory volunteers are encouraging fellow residents to place their safety in the hands of this successful initiative and bring the area in line with the northern suburbs. In the interests of making CAP known to residents and building neighbourly spirit, volunteers run community events in partnership with stakeholders including schools, the Jewish community, Urania Village and the Observatory East Residents’ Forum. A December ‘bring and braai’ hosted by Sacred Heart will give the community an opportunity to meet CAP representatives and learn about the initiative.
Investment in safety necessitates raising both awareness and funds.
Because the organisation is non-profit, residents must fund one around-the-clock proactive patrol vehicle through armed response contracts and donations, and with 100 houses signed up in Observatory, volunteers have far to go before they reach the required 350 home contracts.
One car may not seem sufficient for the area’s 1 000 houses, said Sussman, but neighbouring CAP areas and centralised infrastructure will provide support, and once the first vehicle is in place, the community hopes to build up rapidly to a three-vehicle presence.
“CAP is ready to come in. It’s all up to us,” said Sussman.
Details: Noa 083 275 3319; Hugo 072 148 2817; www.capgroup.org.za
