BUSINESS owners and police met last week to discuss the community improvement project (CIP) which is being implemented by Heather Rorick of the Bulwer Communicy Safety Forum in partnership with Enforce Security along Helen Joseph Road.
At the meeting, Nikki Mohlmann from Enforce Security, outlined the project and encouraged business owners to see the positive side of the project, which aims to curb crime and grime in the area. The idea was the brainchild of Rorick, who said the increase in crime, in particularly violent crime, needed more aggressive measures to be implemented to fight crime and grime in the area.
Rorick said because criminals were targetting businesses in the area, a WhatsApp group would be established where businesses along Helen Joseph Road could keep in contact and notify each other of crime in the precinct.
“We are holding this meeting as crime is negatively impacting businesses in the area. With the influx of vagrants, the increase in theft and crime businesses are being affected. We need to strengthen the area togethe. The CIP is one way of doing this,” she said.
Rorick said Metro Police were fully on board with the project, and the municipality was offering backing and support.
“The CIP is the way to take back the community, but we need commitment from businesses. Glenwood is getting a bad name and the days of sitting back and saying we pay our rates and taxes are gone, we need to work together,” she said.
Mohlmann explained to businesses that there would be a dedicated armed response vehicle and security officer patrolling the CIP area 24/7. Community ambassadors would be placed along the roads to flush out illegal car guards. The community ambassadors will be vetted and have criminal record checks, will be trained and put in uniform. They will have radios in order to keep in touch with the armed response vehicle.
Rorick, as a manager, will be appointed to work with the security company and all stakeholders, Metro Police, SAPS and the municipality, and there will be an Enforce investigating division to work with SAPS and Metro to investigate crime areas covered by the CIP.
To find out more about the CIP, contact Heather on 074 203 2792.
