LEAP officers deployed where the need is greatest 

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen says in areas where Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers are deployed, they continue to make a notable different in addressing crime and preventing violence.

LEAP officers are currently deployed in thirteen areas, of which 10 areas form part of the top 10 murder areas in the Western Cape. These include areas such as Delft, Gugulethu, Harare, Khayelitsha (Site B policing precinct), Kraaifontein, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, Philippi East, and Samora Machel. The other high crime areas where they are deployed to, are Atlantis, Bishop Lavis and Hanover Park, and recently Lavender Hill, Steenberg and Grassy Park. These placements are strategic and backed by data.

Between 9 – 15 May 2022, these officers have amongst others: 

• Searched 8 114 persons
• Searched 366 houses
• Searched 1 230 vehicles
• Conducted 122 roadblocks
   

During this period, they also executed 161 arrests. Seven were for the possession of an illegal firearm, 8 for the possession of illegal ammunition, 88 for the possession of drugs, 5 for the possession of dangerous weapons and the balance for various other offences. The illegal firearms were confiscated in Nyanga, Muizenberg, Town Two, Harare and Lavender Hill. 

The LEAP officers are force multipliers and work hand-in-hand other law enforcement agencies to enhance and strengthen crime-fighting efforts. To this effect: 

• 21 Integrated operations with other City of Cape Town Law Enforcement and 161 operations with SAPS were conducted.
   

Minister Allen said: “I commend these officers for being diligent in their duties. This is part of the reason why these successes are being achieved, and why this unit was established. Options around the further deployment into areas where we’ve seen a recent increase in shooting incidents are currently being considered. Our aim is to make life as uncomfortable as we can for these criminals as we do not want their illegal activities in any of our communities.” 

Minister Allen concluded: “We will only be able to effectively combat crime if we do not lose hope and all work together.”

Source: Government of South Africa