Cape Town - Crime in the CBD, including chain snatching, theft out of vehicles and ATM fraud, is on the decrease –thanks to the prompt response of Central City Improvement Distric units.
The CCID is a private-public partnership formed with property owners in the area.
Speaking at the CCID’s annual general meeting, chairman Rob Kane said its officers had an average response time of less than five minutes.
“The CCID’s unit is still the number one respondent on the scene for the city’s own Cyclops camera surveillance unit,” said Kane.
He added that the city’s urban management reported considerable success in preventative measures when identifying adolescent day strollers and new children coming into the city centre. This included mothers who used children to beg.
“A substantial reduction in litter, waste and illegal dumping were also reported, as well as efficient and ongoing cleaning of stormwater drains in the CBD. The area saw no flooding once again (for the seventh year in a row) as a result of blocked drains.
“This made the CBD one of the few areas in Cape Town to be spared this potentially disastrous annual winter occurrence during the heavy rainfall months,” said Kane.
Against its running budget of R38 million for the year under review, Kane said the CCID provided services in an area with “a total municipal value of R23 billion, that generated R216m in rates over the year, all within the CCID boundaries of 1.6km2”.
The partnership, which deploys a 600-strong task force across the CBD, celebrated its 13th year in operation on Tuesday.
Kane said its major achievements included a LED street lighting pilot project on Greenmarket Square, its involvement in the CBD’s first researched and consolidated systemic roll-out of 140 new motorcycles, and 42 new disabled parking bays.
Cape Argus