Hill-Lewis says CoCT's use of tech to fight crime proving fruitful
Hill-Lewis said fighting crime through only police officers is not suistanable, but complementing this with technology such as drones and and gun shot echolocation is proving an effective combination.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis talks on Kfm 94.5 | 13 July 2023 | Photographed by Ruth Smith (@ruthsmithcreates)
CAPE TOWN - Despite at least five people being killed in suspected gang violence and crime in various areas on the Cape Flats over the long weekend, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the city's model to fight crime is working.
Speaking on the Kfm breakfast show on Tuesday morning, Hill-Lewis said most of the city's policing resources are being used in crime hotspots.
"The official figures show that that is working. It's the only city in the country where violent crime is ticking down. You can't just hire thousands and thousands of extra police officers. It's not financially sustainable. So, we're investing in technology."
The mayor said the use of technology to fight crime has proven effective in cities abroad, citing New York as an example.
"Mandatory body cameras, and dashboard cameras for all of our officers. Eye-in-the-sky technology, drone technology, gunshot echolocation, shot spotter technology... All either already rolled out or rolling out to more areas soon."
Hill-Lewis said the devolution of national policing powers to the provincial government would also help fight crime in the Western Cape.