Motorists in the greater Parklands, Sunningdale and Rivergate areas will have to watch out as the local neighbourhood watch rolled out their Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera project to help curb crime.
Parklands and surrounds made headlines over the past years for its high drug smuggling rate and sexual exploitations – with many speculating that foreign nationals are to be blamed for the spike in crime.
This led to high police visibility and to visibility patrols by the Parklands Neighbourhood Watch (PNW) that covers Parklands, Parklands North, Sandown, Sunningdale, Rivergate and Pioneer Valley, known as Sector 2.
According to Gary le Roux, PNW chair, the cameras have been installed at various entry and exit points in the area.
“We still have many points to cover for full effectiveness,” he says.
The neighbourhood watch has partnered with Navic (National Vehicle Intelligence Cloud) to bring the Navic Cloud Automatic Number Plate Recognition camera system to the area of Sector 2.
“Navic’s technology and investigations tools are deployed nationally in residential, commercial and law-enforcement structures. Navic’s ANPR works by analysing the camera data, which is then processed through a series of intelligent algorithms,” Le Roux says.
The company was formed in 2016 to provide a security platform for communities, businesses and the government in the fight against crime in South Africa.
The company has evolved into a complete ANPR, object analytic and intelligence ecosystem.
What is ANPR?
ANPR is a highly accurate system capable of reading vehicle number plates without human intervention.
The ANPR technology detects whether the licence plate matches the vehicle, and if not, officers are able to stop the driver, escort the vehicle to the traffic department or police station, and investigate the circumstances to determine whether it is an accidental duplication of plates.
As a vehicle passes an ANPR camera, its registration number is read and instantly checked against database records of vehicles of interest.
Police officers can stop a vehicle, speak to the occupants and, where necessary, make arrests.
How will the PNW’s project work?
Partnerships with the police, law enforcement agencies and the various ARCS in the area have been formed for sharing of information and alerts.
“Partnerships with residents and businesses are to build up our ANPR camera network at strategic points. The various security companies part of our ANPR response team are Star Alarms, Team DSS, Avid Security, Atlantic Seaboard Armed Response, Koreserv, UPC and we are building this team every day. The effectiveness of this system has been proven,” Le Roux explains.
PNW is looking for donations towards improving this system and is calling on all residents and businesses in the area to get involved and donate towards the safety and security for all who live and work in the area.
“Please donate, no matter the amount. All proceeds go directly to building up our ANPR camera project for the safety and security of all. If you would like to sponsor a camera or the monthly read fee, please email chairman@pnwatch.co.za,” he says.
The PNW has a unique QR code for any donation which can be found on their website (www.pnwatch.co.za/pnw-anpr-project).
- For more information and to get involved, send an email to secretary@pnwatch.co.za or call 079 453 7420.
