In an effort to speed up police response time to crime reports by citizens that require urgent action, the North West Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison is to embark on a house numbering Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED) Letsema / Volunteerism Campaign Project. The first of its kind project in the province is to be rolled out at Makapanstadt RDP Section in Moretele at 9:00am on Thursday, 24 February 2011.
The provincial department has jointly with the South African Police Service identified that absence of street names and house numbering delay police response to crime reports by citizens that require urgent police action particularly in new formal and informal settlements. Police tend to get lost trying to locate exact houses whenever they are responding to emergencies particularly at night as most houses in these settlements either do not have conspicuous house numbers or have them at all. This delays their arrival in situations that require their swift arrival.
As part of strengthening crime prevention for urgent apprehension of suspects, the department in partnership with the South African Police Service, Mmakau Cluster Policing Board, Makapanstadt Community Policing Board and Moretele Local Municipality will also distribute whistles to households in the area.
The department is on a drive to get all municipalities across the province to adopt and implement the CPTED Strategy as part of their Integrated Development Plans in order to address environmental factors that contribute towards crime.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
