Police in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, have unveiled a strategy to take the battle against crime to drug dealers and gangs, the Cape Times reported on Wednesday.
The strategy includes the deployment of 54 more reservists, greater use of the dog unit, the strengthening of detective services, and assigning five more flying-squad vehicles to patrol routes into Mitchells Plain.
There is to be a special focus on the possession of illegal firearms, and search-and-seizure operations are to be the order of the day until further notice.
Announcement of the details coincided with a statement by the Cabinet that noted the recent violent protests in Mitchells Plain and said urgent police action was needed to deal with the scourge of illegal substance abuse and dealing.
The Cabinet also urged civilians not to take the law into their hands, but to work closely with the police. Cooperation by civilians is to be a crucial element as the police strategy is to be driven by intelligence, said Mitchells Plain police director Jeremy Vearey.
He said the formation of street committees in every suburb will be intensified and people will be encouraged to join up. The heads of the 12 policing sectors will help the committees get organised, be responsible for their logistical needs and exchange information on criminals and the types of crimes in the area, he said.
Meanwhile, there will be 24-hour police patrols in each of the 12 policing sectors in Mitchells Plain. The eight sectors most prone to crime, such as Tafelsig and Beacon Valley, will immediately be assigned two police vehicles each.
Police will also clamp down on common gang activities, such as loitering.
The media will be given weekly progress reports.
Thirty-five crime-prevention officers have been called in for special operations, such as raids on drug dens and ”to focus on dealers and gang lords”, Vearey said.
Police figures for Mitchells Pain show theft is the most common crime. Much of it is by addicts to pay for drugs.
Vearey said the three houses attacked by protesters in Lentegeur last week had not been included in the list distributed by police of addresses where drugs had been seized. Also, the five people held in connection with the violence did not live in Mitchells Plain. — Sapa
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