Cape Town - A bold new plan by businesses and crime fighters to improve safety along the Blouberg beachfront has been launched.
Speaking to the Cape Argus, Trevor Wittles of the Beach Boulevard Precinct Business Forum, said after months of hard work, the project was finally launched this week, with the help of the Table View Community Policing Forum (CPF).
He said the project comes following an increase in various crimes which has resulted in a decline in foot traffic at local eateries. Wittles said in recent months, the forum noted an increase in social media posts about patrons feeling unsafe while visiting the picturesque beachfront.
“We were receiving flack about vagrants and drug dealers. We employed a private security company but new issues arose, where not all the businesses were clients of a certain company raising issues where the vagrants and dealers would just go to properties where the security company had no authority to remove them.”
He said the forum also worked closely with the City of Cape Town to beautify the area, but the issues persisted until they drafted the plan to create the safe zone.
“What it is, is a gazebo which is manned by neighbourhood watch patrollers on a Friday and Saturday when it is the busiest and the most muggings are reported.
“We are also having issues with people not reporting crimes so, according to SAPS, it looks like there aren’t issues, but there are. In the safe space it provides patrons with a place to go if they require assistance.
“Also, if they are waiting for a lift, they can stand safely with patrollers to avoid becoming a victim of crime.”
mahira.duval@inl.co.za
Cape Argus