The Little Mowbray Rosebank Improvement District (LMRID) launched its new 24-hour security patrol service for Little Mowbray and Rosebank on Thursday September 15.
It’s the culmination of a three-year community participation process that saw residents vote to establish the improvement district.
LMRID formed a security sub- committee, with members of the two neighbourhood watches and other volunteers, which has a contract with private security company Securitas to operate the new service. Residents can contact the LMRID control room at 071 6155 929.
Incidents on private properties need to be reported to the police or the relevant armed response firm.“The LMRID security service will be responsible for patrolling public spaces only and, like the previous bicycle patrols, does not have legal powers to enter into private properties,” said LMRID spokesman Marc Gammon.
The LMRID patrollers carry non-lethal pepper spray sidearms which fire cartridges designed to immobilise rather than injure or kill “suspects who are threatening patrollers or residents”.
The use of non-lethal weapons would prevent innocent bystanders being wounded or killed in crossfire, and all patrollers had been trained in how and when to use them, said Mr Gammon.
Patrollers would be monitoring the area 24 hours a day. A profile with photos of the six patrol officers, Lundi Papu, Sipheshile Mbiyo, Xolani Marasi, Tobile Mtabana, Mvuyisi Jack, and Zukile Mnukwa, has been placed on the LMRID website (www.lmrid.capetown)
The LMRID has negotiated with ADT that the bicycle patrols, which have operated in the area over the past few years, will come to an end at the end of September.
ADT will be terminating any deductions for the bicycle patrol for all subscribers automatically on Saturday October 1.
