BIG Brother has more than an eye on crime on the beachfront with the launch of the Beachfront Camera Facility on Durban’s beachfront. Since its cameras went live in December, a massive 812 incidents have been dealt at the facility in Boscome Terrace.
The facility is the base from where staff monitor 34 cameras installed from uShaka Marine World to Blue Lagoon, including areas such as Mahatma Gandhi (Point) Road, Brickhill Road, the M4 and Snell Parade.
“These are static cameras, however they can be moved by staff at the base to roam. There is also good zoom facility and staff can see everything that is happening on the streets and on the beachfront. It is there for the safety of residents and beachgoers,” said Snr Supt Eddie von Bargen, Beach Front Division of the Durban Metro Police Services.
According to Snr Supt Von Bargen, it is all about communication which he says is key to enforcement and management of the project.
“We can see any problems happening and respond accordingly. Isidingo Security are onboard with the initiative and we have guards posted every 60 meters from uShaka to Blue Lagoon who are moving on the vagrants, street children and prostitutes and stopping people found drinking in public, all elements which add to crime. They are the eyes and ears on the ground and are in direct contact with members at the base for reaction. Their presence has made a huge impact on the beachfront,” he said.
The Beachfront Camera Facility started small over a year ago, with guards on the beachfront from 4pm to 8pm, but from 1 December this was extended to 24 hours a day.
“With the removal of vagrants, street children and prostitutes from the area, we have seen a drop in crime and a decrease in infrastructural damage. This crime prevention is ongoing, and the aim is to stop crime before it happens,” said Von Bargen.
The initiative is a partnership between emergency services, Metro, SAPS, law enforcement and Isidingo. The camera facility has also been used by engineering departments of the municipality.
“We are working to rid the area of the ‘broken window syndrome’. There has already been a change on the beachfront. It’s so nice to see an increase in traffic with so many visitors on the promenade, it is very positive for the City. We had a massively busy festive season but the number of incidents was down,” he said.
Camera operators, Kevin Govender and Nondumiso Msomi, are based at the facility, and are supported by a Metro Police officer and security guard on duty who check the cameras to see what is happening on the streets. They are in direct contact with Metro, SAPS and law enforcement on the beachfront.
“Crime stats have definitely dropped drastically. Over the festive season there was only one car stolen in the area and quite a few arrests for theft out of motor vehicles. Compared to the previous festive season incidents have dropped a lot,” said Govender.
Von Bargen said the public now needed to buy into the initiative and report crime. Contact 031 322 6181/82/83/84 to speak to an operator and enforcement will be despatched from the base.
