SINCE its inception, the Durban North/uMhlanga Community Police Forum (CPF) Nite Race has offered the north Durban community a chance to keep fit. However, it has also had a positive impact on the area, besides raising crime awareness, the races have also raised funds for the CPF to increase their capacity for night patrols and other activities.
Northglen News recently caught up Mary Knox of the CPF who explained what the funds have contributed to.
“One of our projects was to upgrade the trailer utilised for roadblocks by the Durban North SAPS with additional equipment which has helped. We have assisted with paying for a phlebotomist to be available at the roadblocks to draw blood for anyone arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. We have assisted the Home Hawks (sector 1B) with the purchase of magnets. We’ve also been able to host a big drive on fridge magnets which we handed out to the public with relevant emergency numbers on,” Knox explained.
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One of the latest projects however is the partnering with Marshall Security and the installation of the new ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras.
According to Tyron Powell of the company, seven cameras have been installed at strategic points in the area.
“The cameras have been put up at entry and exit points we’ve identified as the CPF. Every vehicle driving past the cameras is photographed. The registration numbers are then sent to the emergency contact centre where they are automatically checked against our own and the SAPS Sought Vehicles database. If a vehicle is flagged both the SAPS and ourselves will act accordingly,” he said.
Dave Ward, a local resident and organiser of the CPF nite races said although he was pleased with the amount raised, he would like to see more people from the community and the surrounds participating at the events.
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“We would like to see more people involved. I think to an extent we’ve saturated the base we’ve got but I would like to see the events grow. We are working on some new ideas to freshen up the routes and the events themselves. I’m extremely pleased at how much we have raised especially when you see the results of the funds being spent on tools that will help the community tackle crime better,” he said.
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