JMPD to use smart policing to fight crime
JMPD Chief, David Tembe hopes to intergrate use of technology, greater collaboration with the well-resourced private security sector and more public engagements within the Joburg Metro Police Department to reduce crime in the City of Johannesburg.
Addressing Business, Community Policing Forums, and Residents Associations on the 17th of April, Chief Tembe said that, during his earliest tenure, JMPD won a service excellence award in 2008. He left on a high in 2011 to establish the National Traffic Police and started getting involved in officer training in US states like Memphis, Charlotte, and Virginia.
Chief Tembe told the audience that in order to win the war against crime and lawlessness, the JMPD needed to harness technology, strengthen relations with private security companies, and build stronger partnerships with the community.
“As the JMPD, we need to work with the private security sector and become a force multiplier. Private security firms know the areas better because they patrol them and we need to integrate our command centres.”
Chief Tembe said private security firms boast better training, continuous refresher courses, better machinery, and all round great resources that could also be shared with the JMPD in its fight against crime in the City. He said this after representatives of private security firms offered their services to the City for free in order to bring crime levels down. The Regional Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairpersons also urged the JMPD to attend CPF meetings regularly.
Business people complained about minibus taxis and e-hailing cabs like Uber and Taxify. Chief Tembe promised to enforce bylaws in and around the Sandton CBD to ensure commuter safety.
Chief Tembe said JMPD has already deployed four cars that had on-board cameras to pick up fine defaulters, wanted criminals and stolen vehicles and he was expanding six more before the end of the year.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Major-General Deliwe de Lange inaugurated Chief Tembe at the Nasrec Showgrounds on Tuesday, 6 March 2018.
“I’m still new in my job, but there has been steady progress. We have impounded 76 trucks that were caught for illegal dumping. Instead of issuing fines, most of the trucks were not roadworthy and we have taken them off the road. About 60 bikes have been positioned on the freeway to curb the scourge of driving on the emergency lane,” Chief Tembe said.
He has urged motorists to stop giving Metro Police Officers “cold drinks,” saying this eroded all the good way that was being done to renew and inspire a quality police force.
