In a progressive development, the fight against crime in Newcastle has advanced into the digital age, aiming to safeguard the community from criminal elements. This was revealed during the Newcastle Community Policing Forum’s (CPF) Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday evening, 6 June 2024.
During the CPF meeting held at St Dominics Newcastle, Newcastle CPF chairperson Ismaeel Dhalech noted that since the organisation’s current executive committee took over two years ago, significant strides had been made to combat crime and enhance visible policing within the community.
This included establishing patrols, ensuring the Municipal bylaws were updated and gazetted, and seeing a strong stance against criminal activity within the community. The Newcastle CPF has also begun raising funds, with the organisation considering installing camera systems and spotlights in town.
As the Newcastle CPF looks at enhancing security measures to safeguard Newcastillians, Colonel Ragunanan from the Amajuba District SAPS noted that Newcastle has recently seen an increase in contact crimes. This saw approximately 700 assault cases in the past two months. Adding to this, the SAPS further noted 500 property crimes, which included business and residential burglaries.
Colonel Ragunanan further pointed out that this equated to approximately 10 burglaries a day over the past two months.
With this in mind and the Newcastle CPF determined to work alongside law enforcement and security companies, Connect Global App Designer James Chang has offered the CPF and Newcastle community a digital tool to combat crime. This tool is the SafetyLife App.
The SafetyLife App, according to Chang, offers residents the opportunity to report crimes as they are happening.
Sponsoring the app to the CPF, its regular patrollers and approximately 600 free subscriptions to pensioners and housewives across town, Chang noted that the app will mark the dawn of a new era in crime fighting.
Furthermore, Chang, a former Newcastle resident and former translator for the local courts and KZN High Court, explained that the idea of the app came to him following a criminal case he worked on, where a woman was murdered during a robbery. Determined to see residents receiving an immediate response from law enforcement, he came upon the idea for the app.
“This is the first South African patented security and safety app, which puts us in the first world league,” began Chang.
The SafetyLife App allows residents to make a voice recording detailing a crime in progress on their cellphone and submit the information through the app. Chang’s company then immediately notifies the Newcastle CPF’s chairperson, who can promptly inform the SAPS. CPF and security officials can also provide support where needed.
“This allows law enforcement to respond accordingly to the crime. If four armed men enter your yards with AK47s, you can explain it on the app and law enforcement can come with the necessary resources and ensure that the crime is addressed appropriately,” explained Chang, adding that the app allowed your cellphone to submit its exact location of where the crime was taking place.
This would see law enforcement receive the exact details of the crime taking place, and the exact location, while seeing all roleplayers responding accordingly.
During the CPF AGM, two residents noted that it was difficult to reach the SAPS at times, with the calls not always being answered at the station.
As a result, Chang noted that the SafetyLife App would address this challenge by allowing the police to receive real-time crime reports as they occur. The app enables law enforcement to access the ongoing voice recording, providing them with detailed, moment-by-moment information to plan their response accordingly.
Moreover, on Friday, 7 June 2024, Chang met with police officials and is now in the process of having the app registered with E2 in Newcastle.
E2 (the Eyes and Ears Initiative) is an official joint crime-fighting initiative between the South African Police Service (SAPS), Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA), and the Private Security Industry (PSI). Through this initiative, the PSI formally cooperates with SAPS by relaying information directly to the Provincial Operational Command Centre (POCC) and, in some instances, receiving relevant information directly from it.
This means that soon, every law enforcement agency in the Newcastle area will have access to the app, enhancing safety and crime-fighting efforts. This will enable residents and crime-fighting officials to work together more effectively to eradicate criminal activity.
Residents are urged to approach the Newcastle CPF for further information on the app, and thereby take an active stance in the fight against crime.
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