Officers from the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate joined delegates from various other South African enforcement agencies for an anti-kidnap and extortion workshop. Representatives from the United States of America, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United Kingdom presented the workshop.

The workshop was facilitated by the City and focused on capacitating delegates on the best practice in kidnap and extortion investigations in line with the United Nations Manual of Guidance for countering Kidnapping and Extortion.

'These crimes are on the increase in South Africa and while we need to effectively address kidnapping and extortion, we also need to equip the officers who respond and investigate. As criminals are upping their game, so we have to ensure the skills of law enforcement also don't lag behind,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

The attendees included delegates from the National Prosecuting Authority, the South African Police Service Anti kidnapping Unit, and representatives from the following City Safety and Security departments: Safety and Security Investigation Unit, the Safety and Security Information Management Services, Emergency Police Incident Control System, Traffic, Law Enforcement, and Metro Police.

'I want to thank the National Crime Agency of the UK, the FBI and the US Diplomatic Security Service, for the week long workshop on kidnapping and extortion. The knowledge gained and relationships built are invaluable in combatting the syndicates involved in these crimes in Cape Town. By working together, we are able to enhance our capabilities, strengthen our response and possibly prevent some of these crimes.

'I want to reiterate the call for a SAPS task team to focus on these crimes. We support the response to cases and play an active role as far as possible. More needs to be done and by working together we can keep communities safe and put an end to these extortion syndicates,' added Alderman Smith.

The City reminds residents that they can report crime, including extortion, kidnapping and by-law offences anonymously, 24-hours a day, on 0800 110077.

The City will pay a reward once all administrative processes have been completed, in instances where its policing resources achieve an operational result that directly relates to information received, like (an) arrest/s, confiscation of contraband or illegal firearms, recovery of stolen goods, the rescue of a kidnapped victim, etc.

The system is NOT open to people under the age of 18 or City of Cape Town employees.

Source: City Of Cape Town