Community project tackles crime and grime

WITH the launch of the Bulwer Community Improvement Project (CIP), crime and grime along Helen Joseph Road is being tackled with fierce determination.

In recent weeks a board was established comprising seven directors, including six business owners, and Heather Rorick, chairperson of the Bulwer Safety and Urban Regeneration Forum, who is also the operations manager.

“To start the project off, we have installed Bulwer Ambassadors along Helen Joseph Road. We gave the former car guards the opportunity to become Ambassadors, but after the criminal checks were done, we were left with two who were taken on recommendation by local businesses. We recruited other individuals and now have a team are on duty on Helen Joseph Road,” said Chris Beresford from TAP Kruger and Associates, who is one of the directors.

“Since we started the Ambassadors, it feels like we’re being held hostage by the illegal car guards who intimidate and harrass the Ambassadors working on the street. We hope Metro Police will come to the party and help us deal with this problem. We believe this is the only way we are going to fight the crime and grime in the road. The Ambassadors are also extra eyes and ears on the road which benefits the police,” said Rorick.

Rorick and Beresford said the project still needed support from the community and businesses in the road who hadn’t yet paid to be part of the initiative.

“This project will benefit business owners and landlords in the hospitality industry. When people hear the area is improving, more patrons will support the businesses in the ares and residential property values will also increase,” said Beresford.

Rorick said she had appealed to the other businesses to come on board as the ultimate goal was to have a dedicated vehicle to patrol the area.

“From 2017 we will also be putting signage up outside the businesses who are part of the CIP so patrons can see which businesses are part of this project to curb crime in the area,” she said.

The ultimate goal is for the CIP to cover Helen Joseph Road down to Umbilo Road, along Umbilo Road and up Che Guevara (Moore) Road.

“Businesses should consider how much it costs to sustain the Ambassadors, including their uniforms, radios, and salaries. We have been told that people will come back to the area if they know it is safe, so it is a win-win situation. Businesses will get back what they pay to be a part of the CIP with the increase in customers to the area. We are asking businesses to talk to us about what they can afford, as every cent counts,” she said.

Beresford said businesses needed to realise that this was the next step in securing the road.

“We had to look at taking this to the next level. Having armed response hasn’t helped curb the criminal activities this road. We will take little steps every day to fight until we win against crime, we have to,” he said.

The community Ambassadors are not only be the eyes and ears on the ground, but are also responsible for keeping their own turf clean. They are given black bags and brooms to keep their areas clean. “We will also run competitions for the cleanest patch, to motivate them,” said Rorick.

The project is appealing for donations of black jeans and shoes for the Ambassadors.

To find out more about the CIP, contact Heather on 074 203 2792 or Chris on 083 662 0505.