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The Gauteng Aggravated Robbery Strategy has several weapons in its arsenal that will be used against aggravated crime, particularly in targeted hotspots.
THE high levels of aggravated robberies in Gauteng will be tackled through a new strategy launched by Premier Paul Mashatile.
The strategy focuses on improving the quality of policing, mobilising the community, preventing crime and ensuring an effective criminal justice system. It is a joint initiative that includes Gauteng law enforcement agencies, Business Against Crime and the banking sector.
Speaking at a briefing on Wednesday, 3 December at the Office of the Premier in Braamfontein, Mashatile said the Gauteng Aggravated Robbery Strategy would intensify the fight against crime.
"We expect to substantially increase the number of arrests and prosecution of perpetrators of these crimes."
In the next three months surveillance cameras will be rolled out in areas where there is a high incidence of aggravated crime. The cameras have been funded by the banks, at a total cost of R14-million.
Mobile police units will be deployed in Diesploot, Braamfischerville and Zanspruit by 2009. A special investigation task team responsible for following up information and investigating cases has also been set up.
"In order to strengthen our intelligence surveillance system, we will establish a control and operations room that is directly linked to the Gauteng 10111 centre," Mashatile said.
A Crime Management Centre to help investigating officers with specialised investigative expertise would also be established, he added.
By February 2009, another 80 vehicles will be given to rapid response teams so that they will be able to reach crime scenes in time. It will also ensure better co-ordination among the various flying squad teams.
An anti-truck hijacking unit will be deployed on all national and provincial roads in the province. A total of 20 high-powered vehicles and specially trained personnel will be part of this unit. The number of patrollers across the province will be increased from 3 000 to 10 000 by March 2009.
Mashatile appealed to all communities to support this initiative. "We are doing all of this in order to give practical meaning to our commitment towards building a crime-free Gauteng."
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