City talks tech with international enforcement counterparts
25 May 2023
The two-day workshop
from 24-25 May was designed to share experiences, learnings and how Cape Town
can make the most of the body and dash cameras that are being deployed on a
wider scale in the new financial year.
The City of Cape Town's Safety and Security Directorate hosted representatives of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) this week.
The purpose was two-fold, namely sharing high level overviews of operations and the use of technology; but also specific lessons learned from the use of body-worn cameras and dash-cams.
Representatives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia were among the speakers, to reflect on the experiences in their particular jurisdictions.
'The City recognises the value of engaging with subject matter experts whenever we are considering, or embarking on a new direction. Body-worn cameras and dash-cams are in use by many policing agencies, but fairly new in SA. The City is looking to change that, but as we embark on this journey, we thought it prudent to tap into the experience and lessons of those who are already familiar with the technology, so that we can ensure the best possible use of the tools that we'll be acquiring.
'We have learnt much from our engagement with our peers in the US over the years which has driven new policing strategies around gang, drug and firearm enforcement and our specialised units as well as innovations such as the School Resource Officers, gunfire detection, CCTV and projects like Ceasefire or Cure Violence. We are constantly deploying more staff, improving our training and adding technology. Body-worn cameras and dash-cams are the most recent additions after the previous proof of concept experiments with these,' said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Already, the use of dashboard-mounted devices with Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) functionality has proven invaluable to Traffic Services and significantly strengthens the City's enforcement capabilities.
These devices were used during a pilot phase and have allowed for lessons to be learnt. From the lessons learnt, the Safety and Security Directorate's budget for 23/24 financial year includes the procurement and deployment of 50 In-Vehicle Camera Solutions.
These offer both overview cameras and ANPR devices and will record incidents as they happen whilst also able to stream live video to the control rooms for enhanced situational awareness of critical incidents.
The Directorate is also deploying 400 Body Worn Cameras to enhance officer safety by increasing situational awareness and serving as a deterrent to potential perpetrators. They also act as a safeguard for the public and City staff, particularly in situations where claims are made against them, helping to maintain transparency and accountability thanks to independent footage.
There will also be an additional 10 fixed ANPR cameras and 20 mobile ANPR cameras. This technology will be deployed over a 12-month period and extended to the 24/25 financial year.
'The workshop learnings will be incredibly useful in drafting our standard operating procedures for the new technology as we prepare for the rollout, and we are very grateful to the IACP for responding so positively to our request.
'Cape Town has developed a good working relationship with international counterparts over the years and we extend our sincere appreciation to them all for the valuable contributions. This is but the latest information exchange – just a few months ago, we also facilitated a workshop for City and SAPS officials around kidnapping and extortion that was addressed by experts from the US and UK, and we'll continue to scout for opportunities that can help us build an even stronger safety and security network for our communities,' added Alderman Smith.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
