Support Florida Road’s men in red

THE Florida Road Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) rolled out its Florida Road Sidewalk Monitor Programme this week in an attempt to control the issue of ‘car guards’ and vagrancy, which are two of the biggest challenges in the road.

According to Jarrod Evans, precint manager, these issues affect every aspect of the road, from perceptions of safety to the quality of the experience when people visit the area.

The Sidewalk Monitor Programme has been rolled out with the support of the eThekwini Municipality, Metro Police and SAPS Berea. It is a carefully planned initiative aimed at ensuring a uniform, and well-managed sidewalk monitor service that deploys vetted individuals whose strong presence will discourage that of the vagrant car guards.

“Although prevalent in Durban, ‘car guarding’ is illegal and poses a number of challenges in terms of undesirable people 'guarding' cars and the illegal activities they are sometimes associated with, such as intimidation, selling drugs, remote jamming and vehicle theft. In 2014, The UIP attempted to implement a version of this programme, but with limited on-ground support from the authorities, it quickly failed. This time round, the UIP has spent months engaging with the City and Metro Police in securing support in ensuring Florida Road has a well-managed Sidewalk Monitor programme that adds to the experience of the road, rather than exacerbates criminal activity,” said Evans.

Supporting the monitors is a dedicated Metro Police contingent that has been active on Florida Road since September 2015. The complement will include two to four officers patrolling on foot daily, with a vehicle patrolling the immediate area at night. Seconded to Florida Road as part of the City’s commitment to the urban renewal of Florida Road being driven by the UIP and the Sidewalk Monitor Programme, the officers’ duties will include the policing of all by-law related offences including, illegal vendors, hawking and businesses operating outside their licencing regulations.

This new Sidewalk Monitor Programme will see monitors reporting for roll-call each morning and dispatched to their “section” of road. The monitors are identifiable by their distinctive red and black branded uniform as well as the photo-ID name badges they all wear. They have all had background criminal checks and will be managed by the UIP and its service provider, Enforce Security.

“The monitors will be extra eyes and ears on the road, alerting the UIP patrol and the authorities to any criminal activity or bylaw infringement, and adding another layer to the crime prevention initiatives undertaken by the UIP. Additional duties include picking up litter in their area of operation, removal of outdated advertising boards and the reporting of faults along the public open space,” said Evans.

He said the UIP would pay the monitors a subsidy to relieve some of their financial burden but was looking to the public who often tipped the current car guards on the road, to only support the men in red and in this way work towards a better Florida Road.