Durban North CPF goes high-tech

TECHNOLOGY has become an integral part of our lives, so much so that the Durban North/uMhlanga CPF is aspiring to incorporate it into its crime-fighting initiatives.

However, Haden Searles, chairman of the CPF, explained that state-of-the-art crime fighting technology is not easy to acquire. This is where the CPF Nite Run comes into play. Last week, the Northglen News caught up with Searles to learn about the plans for the Nite Run funds.

“One of our first projects involves camera surveillance at the station. We hope to place cameras at strategic points throughout the station, not only to protect the community but also the staff,” he said.

Some of the strategic spots include the processing area, near the cells to monitor the ins and outs as well as the docket station. What’s more, the CPF also plans to incorporate what might sound like top secret military sci-fi equipment to strengthen it’s constant battle with crime – drones and thermal imaging.

“In Durban North and uMhlanga we have huge green belts and spots of vegetation in which criminals can hide or escape. An unmanned drone, armed with thermal imaging, can be up in the air in seconds where it easily detect the exact location of a suspect,” he said.

Another powerful tool that will hopefully be at the disposal of the CPF and SAPS members is the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology which will be placed at airports, shopping centres and other strategic locations to detect flagged number plates and pinpoint their location to authorities.

But these are all future plans. So far the majority of funds raised by the Nite Run events have been accumulated to fund the equipment.

“We want the equipment to be able to make substantial impact. We have looked at this over the years and realised that technology has become so advanced we would be silly not to lean in that direction. But it is expensive,” he said.

So far, some of the funds have been used to buy reflective jackets for the CPF members to help identify and protect them when they are at a crime scene or guiding traffic at an accident scene. An appeal has been made for the public not only to attend the Nite Run to facilitate the community spirit and help raise funds but also for sponsorships to step forward and support the initiative.

• The spring CPF Nite Run/Walk will be held on Friday, 30 October. The race will commence at the Crusaders Sports Club at 6.30pm. There will be 5km and 10km races. Entrance costs R80 or R40 (10km) and R60 or R30 (5km) for adults and kids respectively. Contact Dave at dave@wardevents.co.za.

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