The City of Cape Town‘s CCTV programme is reaping more and more rewards, says Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith.
A suspect linked to a smash-and-grab incident on 3 September in Jakes Gerwel Drive was arrested in Langa after being identified through CCTV footage.
2 961
Smith says recently 2 961 incidents were recorded, with 905 being crime-related and 33 suspects arrested. “The reality is that many crimes are committed in seconds. By the time enforcement officers arrive, perpetrators may already have disappeared. But the cameras don’t forget. In every instance, relevant footage is preserved and archived to protect the evidentiary chain of custody, and police are notified,” says Smith.
According to Smith, stations across the municipality are able to request CCTV footage from the City’s CCTV centres to assist with their investigations. “Of the 900 criminal incidents captured during July, the highest number of requests came from the stations in Cape Town (8), Goodwood (5), and Milnerton and Nyanga (3). Brackenfell and Mitchells Plain each submitted two requests, while Claremont, Delft, Elsies River, Fish Hoek, Kraaifontein, Lentegeur and Mowbray each requested footage for a single incident — 31 crimes caught on camera,” says Smith.
Invest
“We can invest in technology, detect crimes as they happen, and preserve the footage,” says Smith. “We can direct responding officers to suspects. We can even identify those responsible. But without the necessary investigative powers, municipalities remain dependent on an already overburdened and under-resourced police detective service to collect the evidence and take investigations forward. Thankfully, the police in our municipality have recognised the value of the City’s investment in technology and the important role CCTV footage can play in criminal investigations and prosecutions, but remain starved of the necessary detective resources. CCTV footage can provide compelling and objective evidence, strengthening cases and contributing to faster prosecutorial outcomes.”
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