Cape Town is ramping up its fight against crime with the launch of specialised units aimed at enhancing the city’s policing capabilities, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Originally published via Cape {town} Etc
On Wednesday, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, alongside Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, unveiled the new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit and the Metro Police Aviation Unit.
This strategic initiative marks a significant advancement in the city’s approach to public safety.
The SWAT unit is designed to provide highly-skilled support for serious crimes and high-risk situations that conventional policing may not effectively handle.
With an arsenal that includes modern firearms, night vision technology, and armoured vehicles, the unit will focus on:
- Combating gang-related activities and extortion
- Executing high-risk warrants of arrest
- Providing hostage and barricaded suspect support to the South African Police Service (SAPS)
- Ensuring security at high-profile events
Hill-Lewis expressed his confidence in the efficacy of these units, stating, ‘The City will continue doing whatever it takes to make Cape Town safer. Our officers are ready for expanded powers, especially to tackle gang, gun, and drug crime,’
He also highlighted a commendable 35% increase in SAPS requests to view footage from the city’s surveillance systems, indicating an increase in successful convictions as a direct result of these technological advancements.
Complementing the SWAT unit is the Metro Police Aviation Unit, which leverages aerial surveillance to improve crime-fighting efficiency.
Equipped with certified pilots and multiple aircraft tailored for various operational needs, this unit enhances detection capabilities using advanced technology such as:
- Thermal and zoom cameras
- AI-assisted tracking and laser rangefinders
- Live overhead imagery streaming to control centres
This air support will not only enhance the visibility of operations but also deter criminal activities, with capabilities for live communication and night-spotlighting, making a clear difference in urban safety measures. Alderman Smith remarked, ‘Air support is a force multiplier, widening what officers can see and shortening the time to a confident, safe decision,’
Recent successes attributed to these efforts include intelligence-led arrests across the greater Cape Town area and effective management of crowd-related incidents.
The new units will operate out of the Joint Policing Services Operational Centre (JPSOC), which is currently being finalised for operations. This digital nerve centre aims to integrate a spectrum of existing and emerging safety technologies, ranging from drones and body-worn cameras to artificial intelligence.
The centre will facilitate real-time operational awareness, greatly enhancing situational responsiveness in policing.
Originally published via Cape {town} Etc
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