6 July 2006
The South African Police Service and Metrorail, Spoornet and Shosholoza Meyl
have embarked on a joint initiative aimed at ensuring the safety of commuters
on trains. This initiative was launched on 1 July 2006.
This operation will be concentrated in identified areas of Gauteng, Western
Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Members of the South African Police
Service (SAPS) will be conducting crime prevention and crime combating on the
trains including mainline services such as Transkaroo and Transnatal and on the
platforms.
The operation will be executed with both a proactive and a reactive
approach. While the primary objective is to prevent crime and ensure the safe
transportation of commuters, the deployment will also focus on our national
priorities such as crimes against women and children, the proliferation of
drugs and firearms and any other individual or syndicate related crime.
Members will be keeping a close guard on the use and abuse of alcohol
whether at train stations or on the trains as this has been identified as one
of the root causes of more serious crimes. A zero tolerance approach will be
adopted throughout.
Since the start of this operation 247 persons have been arrested for various
offences including three arrests for the illegal possession of firearms and
ammunition, dealing in and possession of dagga, and drunkenness.
Dedicated task teams in the respective provinces comprising of detectives
and crime intelligence operatives have also been made available to enhance the
investigative capacity pertaining to the rail environment.
There are also static deployments which are essential at turn around points
at railway stations. These deployments will be supplemented by the use of
reservists within the province when the need to enhance capacity arises.
Each province has an operational co-ordinator appointed for effective
command and control and to ensure that communication and other needs such as
human resources and logistics are attended to.
Metrorail CEO, Lauriette Modipane, said that the fruition of the initiative
gratifies Metrorail. "We remain hopeful that the violent crimes that have been
committed in our environment, as well as vandalism and arson on Metrorail
assets are rooted out and perpetrators are brought to book," she said.
SAPS Head of Railway Policing, Assistant Commissioner André Venter,
emphasised that this joint initiative is indicative of the co-operative
partnership between the SAPS, Metrorail, Spoornet and Shosholoza Meyl. "Both
partners are committed to ensuring the safety of our commuters for some of whom
rail transportation is the only affordable means of travelling."
Enquiries:
Vishnu Naidoo
Senior Superintendent Communication and Liaison Services
Tel: (012) 393 1525
Cell: 082 567 4153
Issued by: South African Police Services (SAPS)
6 July 2006
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