Team dedicated to serving the community of Marlands
Marlands Community Policing is all about the community.
The community of Marlands is a lot safer these days thanks to the hard work and dedication of Marlands Community Policing (MCP).
And security in the area is set to get even better when MCP’s camera initiative gets underway.
The GCN caught up with the owner of First Response Panic and Medical Alert (the security company affiliated to MCP), Dennis Nance-Kivell, who has been running MCP for the past six years, to find out more.
MCP is a registered NPO and was started in 2007.
“In those years, people would get into their cars and drive around as members of the CPF,” said Nance-Kivell.
“However, there started to be less and less people out on patrols so a meeting was held with the community and it was decided to form a NPO with permanent patrollers.”
The small team is made up of four full-time patrollers, Nance-Kivell and an office and administration manager.
Armed reaction and alarm monitoring gets done through First Response, as it is a registered security company.
Nance-Kivell said that MCP is run as a community initiative with the NPO helping where they can in the Marlands community, as well as initiating a number of community projects.
“We help in all matters, whether it is a break-in at a home, people needing their dogs fed while they are away or the elderly needing assistance to get somewhere, we will assist,” said Nance-Kivell.
The new camera project, when up and running, should create an even greater security structure in Marlands.
“We need people to join MCP and their monthly contributions will go towards the project,” Nance-Kivell said.
“The cameras will allow us to monitor traffic flow (both vehicles and pedestrians) in the area and we are also looking to get number plate and facial recognition for a database and, ultimately, for the national database.”
However, a project of this nature takes funds.
Due to the frequent power outages in the area, solar powered cameras will be used.
The cost of erecting one camera unit (which will feature about two or three cameras on a galvanised steel pole) is between R13 000 and R15 000.
“We will erect them as funds allow,” he said.
MCP will first test the system by erecting one pole on the corner of Hazel and Pine roads, near their offices, and then branch out to the station and dump areas.
“The idea is to have about 20 poles in the area eventually all actively monitoring all traffic and this will allow us to direct patrollers in the areas as required,” Nance-Kivell said.
If you don’t want to sign up to MCP but would like to assist, the organisation needs the following donations for the project: IP cameras, solar panels, help with installation, galvanised steel poles, solar batteries or any monetary donations to help purchase the required equipment.
MCP is also planning to start a community walk in the spring and self-defence lessons are offered at a nominal fee, every Tuesday and Thursday, at 6.30pm, at 30 Hazel Road.
For more information on MCP or to assist with the camera project, contact Nance-Kivell on 083 453 1591.
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