A NEW crime initative in Glenwood is using social media to help fight crime locally. KZN Commwatch was lauched last week, and has since taken off in the community.
“I established a policing initiative in the Glenmore area 17 years ago and was working with 19 different groups at one time. It was chaos, the phone never stopped and there were unnecessary overlaps in information. I had been talking for some time about setting up a site like this. With crime the way it is, there are so many comm watches and WhatsApp groups in the area, that this site will bring together information on crime in Umbilo, Glenwood, Glenmore and Morningside. There’s too much information not consolidated,” said Wally Coombe, operations and crime scene management for KZN Commwatch.
The site relies on roleplayers and people on the street updating information on what crime is happening in the area. The information is then broadcast to the community via Twitter.
“Everyone will have access to the site and information. It is a free flow of information for the community so they know what is going on in the area,” said Marco Accolla, operations and marketing for KZN Commwatch.
Wally said the site was constructive and not a social media platform where people aired their opinions. It is apolitical, and the authenticity of information is monitored before it is tweeted.
He said he had had a good buy in from comm watches and other stakeholders in the community, and felt it benefitted everyone.
“The Umbilo SAPS has also come on board and is supportive of the initiative,” he said.
Lt Col Manuel Correa from Umbilo SAPS said he supported the endeavour and encouraged people to use the site to help spread awareness of crime in the area.
Marco said: “We encourage security companies and local businesses to use the site to advertise, and we will also encourage a ‘local is lekker’, where residents can make use of local businesses.”
The community is encouraged to register and pass on information.
Visit: www.kzncommwatch.co.za
