Simons Town Community Police Forum

Dear Simonstonian

Since our last posting about the CCTV system on these pages there have been some changes in the implementation of the system. Our original plan was to cover from the Station to the 7ELEVEN with one system which was to be linked back to and monitored by the Police Station. Investigation showed that the infrastructure costs required to achieve this was far in excess of our budget. A rethink resulted in us opting for what we have termed a cluster system approach. The idea here is to get a few cameras up and running together with recording equipment in small cells, each cell being implemented as funds allow. Once we have all the proposed cells in operation the next project will be to raise the funds to feed information from these cells back to a central point.

So far we have two cells in operation, the first consists of four cameras covering:
Lower Rectory Lane, ST George’s Street Pavement between Rectory Land and FNB, the St George’s Street side of the Waterfront Complex and the entrance to Jubilee Square. Recently a fifth camera (funded by a local neighbourhood watch) covering Smith’s Lane was added to this cell.

The second cell was implemented by moving the Pan, Tilt and Zoom camera plus two fixed cameras and the monitoring and recording equipment from the police station to Jubilee Square. Another four fixed cameras were purchased to add to this cell which now covers:
The whole of Cole Point parking area and the Yacht Club, the Jetty, the exit from Jubilee Square, the parking area outside the Seven Seas Club, ST George’s Street towards the police station and St George’s Street towards Rectory Lane.

But we won’t stop here. We have to expand and improve the system to combat the inevitable growth of crime in our area. During the coming months the experience gained with the positioning and operation of these cameras will enable us to plan for the next phase and so on until we reach our goal of covering the most vulnerable parts of the town.

Although running costs of the system are low it will still need frequent maintenance, repair, upgrading and insurance, this regrettably, needs money. That is why we are asking you now to regularly contribute a small monthly sum to our CCTV budget, as our Simon’s Town Business Network has already asked you. The proposed R30 a month, a mere R1 a day, is small but if all the town’s businesses and professionals – the main beneficiaries of CCTV - donate we will be able to meet our objectives. Among them are a link with the Fish Hoek CCTV network, dedicated cameras to capture details of vehicle traffic at the four entrances to Greater Simon’s Town (Blackhill, the quarry, Murdoch Valley and Red Hill), and technological advances in radio and fibreoptic communication.

Please let us know if you are willing to support this effort. It is, after all, for our own good in dangerous times when crime is the biggest growth industry in the country. Monthly payments can be made to the Simon’s Town Community Police Forum at: Account # 27 190 855 6, Standard Bank, Fish Hoek, or P O Box 612, Simon's Town, 7995. Or left at the Café Pescado restaurant. Bank deposits or transfers should have the donor's name and specify “CCTV” in the reference line.

Sincerely,
Arné Söderlund