Additional Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) enforcement officers have been deployed on a permanent basis to Mitchells Plain with hopes to assist in reducing gangsterism and violent crime, including murder.
Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz confirmed that the deployment of the additional LEAP officers has been made possible through the Western Cape Safety Plan which aims to halve murders in the province over the next ten years.
“This makes Mitchells Plain the sixth area to receive LEAP deployments in the Cape Town Metropole. These officers will work in an integrated manner with SAPS.”
Fritz added, “Going forward, the Mitchells Plain contingent of law enforcement will be topped up with additional LEAP officers during the coming weeks. The top up is made possible through the appointment of additional law enforcement officers who will serve to bolster law enforcement and SAPS’ response to crime in Mitchells Plain.”
LEAP enforcement statistics
Between 22 and 28 February 2021, LEAP officers deployed to Philippi, Delft, Nyanga, Khayelitsha and Bishop Lavis have successfully conducted:
- 3983 person searches;
- 105 house searches;
- 492 vehicle check points and vehicle searches;
- 6 follow up visits to ensure shebeen closures;
- 78 inspections of on-consumption and off-consumption liquor premises;
- 147 Autonomous, integrated and joint operations with SAPS.
LEAP officers further made 82 arrests during the period under review, which included:
- 46 arrested for possession and dealing of drugs;
- 19 arrested for possession of dangerous weapons;
- 3 arrested for possession of illegal ammunition;
- 1 arrested for possession of an imitation firearm;
- 2 arrested for trading without a liquor license;
- 2 arrested for house breaking;
- 1 arrested for pointing a firearm; and
- 4 arrested for possession of presumed stolen property.
“I commend our officers on their sterling efforts which are leaving some of our most crime affected communities feeling safer. I also wish to commend SAPS for their support and for working collaboratively with our LEAP officers to ensure that we prevent crime and halve the murder rate in our province” Fritz said.
Image: EWN