Douglasdale residents urged to attend crime forum as local crime surges

Combined Security chairperson Stephen Margo has issued a call to action for residents, and key stakeholders, in the Douglasdale precinct, to attend a critical crime forum meeting on August 13 at the Indaba Hotel.

The meeting, which brings together all security companies operating in the area, aims to tackle the surge in local crime, such as business robberies, theft, and housebreaking, among others.

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Margo said shopping centre management, hotel management, and chairpersons of residential complexes have also been invited, because they are often victims of crime.

He said the monthly forum will focus on analyzing crime statistics to better understand the scope of the problem, and develop effective solutions.

“The stats break down the type of incident, [and] where and when it happened; security companies share the information on incidents they have handled. The police then arrange an exercise and invite the security companies to join them. This combination is working very well and very successfully, due to combined resources and manpower.”

When asked how to improve collaboration and communication between security companies, police, and other stakeholders to enhance crime prevention and response, he said education plays a role.

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“Firstly it’s a question of educating the public in respect [to] crime prevention. Secondly, I think it is the coming together of all security companies, hotel management and security, shopping centre management and security, and complex management and security. By combining all available resources we can win the war on crime, but we need the people to come to the party. Communication is by way of WhatsApp groups, e-mail, and cellphone.

“These meetings are for anyone who has concerns. [They] can discuss [them] openly with the SAPS and security companies at this meeting.”

He said these meetings are also important because they help in measuring the success of their collaborative efforts.

“Crime moves swiftly between areas, and surveillance is critical. If pressure is placed on certain crime in a particular suburb, it will, in all likelihood, move to another suburb. We are open to any ideas and suggestions that people may have, and could possibly run the project, provided we could finance it from the community.

“In closing there is one very important point: all criminal incidents, no matter how trivial, must be reported to the police. Without this information we cannot give accurate crime stats.”

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