We are now one month into our Community Security Initiative and would like to provide you with feedback on how the project is going and once again give you an opportunity to communicate any comments or questions to the project team. Please see the comments and feedback section below.
The Tactical Surveillance Unit (TSU - known as "the Eagles") has been successfully patrolling and are fast familiarising themselves with the area and residents and staff of Winterskloof. The whatsapp communication system is working well and providing useful information to both residents and the TSU. Feedback has generally been excellent from residents and staff alike.
ZERO CRIME HAS BEEN REPORTED IN WINTERSKLOOF IN THE MOST RECENT HILTON COMMUNITY POLICE FORUM CRIME REPORT. Although it is difficult to access and publish actual crime statistics, the TSU and those connected on the community communication systems (radios and whatsapp groups) have been all too familiar with constant reports and alerts over the past few months (at least 3 or 4 times a week) relating to home invasions, petty theft, fences cut, threats to domestic workers, theft out of vehicles and suspicious activity – especially at night time. The increase in violent crime and the involvement of victim's children in the home invasions was particularly disturbing. The quiet on the airwaves since the TSU began operating has been remarkable and comforting, and it appears that a clear message is being sent to criminals that to operate in Winterskloof is going to be difficult for them going forward.
Support for the Community Security Initiative
At the moment we are able to afford a small compliment of TSU operatives and a support vehicle and are heavily reliant on volunteers from within the community to help with communications and administration. The operatives are on a roster system to ensure that we at least have some coverage across the whole of Winterskloof 24 hours per day. Although their presence has made a huge improvement already, we understand that crime incidents usually occur in waves and that perpetrators are opportunistic. We do not want to become complacent and would like to continue to have a strong presence in Winterskloof to send a clear message that this area is not an easy target for criminals. This is a huge task given the many access points and forested areas surrounding Winterskloof. The team is operating well given limited resources but to provide a long-term and strong solution to the problem, more personnel will be needed, as well as other components to the project such as establishing a network of informers and covert operators to complement the operation.
Funding for the project comes entirely from residents' contributions. Although we will strive to keep ALL residents of Winterskloof safe irrespective of whether they are paying towards the project or not, we need as many contributors as possible to make the initiative sustainable in the long term. We have done our utmost to keep costs down. As you can see from the diagram below, only 58% of residents are paying for this community service, from which we all benefit not only in terms of security, but also by improving the valuing of our properties. We all need to inspire and motivate the other 36% to join in and pay their share.
Contributions to the Winterskloof Community Security Initiative as at August 2014
Please reply to this email if you have not been contacted by an Area Communicator and we will make sure that you are added to a whatsapp group.
The whatsapp groups are proving an excellent way of keeping costs of the project down as information from residents can feed into the system that the Eagles/TSU are using to build a picture of who/where and when potential threats are happening.
What Can You Do To Help?
- Sign up to Contribute the monthly fee of R250/month – this is crucial if you have not already done so. We are currently utilising the Winterskloof Sector Forum's savings to subsidise the project and within a few months this will be depleted.
- Volunteer to Patrol in your vehicle (this would be just to provide an added presence and report anything untoward to the TSU. Residents are not expected to confront anyone or put themselves in danger but to add to the surveillance capacity)
- Help with Administration / Communications for your area
- Welcome new residents to the area and tell them about the initiative and how to join
- Speak to us about helping to construct and install Community Notice Boards
- Direct any questions or comments either directly to this address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or to your local area communicator, and we will make sure that these are raised at our monthly meetings and that you are given feedback.
Here are a few of the Questions / Comments from Winterskloof residents that have come in via our Area Communicators in the last few weeks:
- "What is the point of the TSU staff walking in a group of 3? Isn't this a waste of resources and shouldn't they rather be spread out across Winterskloof"?
All movements of the TSU operators are planned and monitored by the TSU command. Decisions are made as and when the need arises for a greater or lesser presence in certain areas based on information received and areas that are regarded as high risk or require a show of force. TSU operatives are moved around the suburb constantly and dropped off to continue patrolling on foot where required, and are in constant radio contact with TSU command. Please remember that residents are welcome to contact us directly should they have comments / suggestions regarding the use of available resources and staff.
- "Will there be a "keiverlert/clocking in" system along the route which has to be clocked in at specific random times as designated by the system"?
No – instead the TSU operators are in constant contact with a patrol vehicle which is dedicated to Winterskloof only. Their movements can be monitored via cell phone technology. As mentioned above, the operators can thus easily be moved to where they are needed at any time in order to maximise crime prevention.
- "We do not have a Smart phone as yet and so would not be able to use the Whats app and would have to rely on sms"?
The communications system is based largely on whatsapp at this stage, as it is a free service and provides crucial intelligence for the TSU/Eagles to use in preventing crime. Please keep us updated and should you acquire a smart phone we would be happy to help you set up whatsapp and join the group for your area. Residents who do not have smart phones are encouraged to obtain radios and join a radio network for your area. Please contact us if you'd like info about getting a radio and which channel you'd be able to join. You could also ask one of the residents in the area to sms you with anything urgent that comes up on the whatsapp group that has particular relevance to your household. The nice thing about a whatsapp group is that even if the administrator is away or their phone is out of range etc, all participants can still contribute to the group and post updates.
- "Gardeners and staff have been questioned by the TSU in what we feel is an excessive manner, bordering on intimidation. Our staff have been very upset by this".
Unfortunately the TSU has begun operating at a time when crime has been rife in Winterskloof and for a long time now people have been present that are up to no good. We ask residents to please explain to their staff about the TSU and that they are doing their job in asking questions. As they become familiar with those working in the valley, questioning will become less frequent. Please write down your name, address and phone number for your staff to show to the TSU if you are concerned about them being questioned.
- "With the area being divided into clusters within Winterskloof, are there going to be specific guards designated to each area"?
Unfortunately this would be prohibitively expensive. The "clusters" are for communication and administrative purposes only. The project aims to protect Winterskloof as a whole.
- "It seems the onus is on us to contact our security company for assistance and none would be forthcoming from the new proposed TSU. i.e. all we are relying on is TSU being a visible presence in the area, but not in effect carry out any arrests or assistance etc."
The TSU/Eagles are not an armed response company and we ask residents to follow the usual channels in the event of an emergency. Apart from undertaking various covert activities, the TSU overtly operate on a 24/7/365 basis with shift strength varying from time to time and dependent on the nature and demands of planned operations. As a rule, TSU tasks vary from general patrols, surveillance, roadblocks with the SAPS, occasional visible patrols with the SAPS Dog Unit, and when necessary, prearranged observations and 'stake-outs' in areas identified as "hot spots". Routine patrols both day and night include monitoring of vehicle and pedestrian traffic, follow up on suspicious vehicles and questioning of suspicious characters.
- "With the monitoring fee of R250 per month, i.e. almost R10 per day, would there be any discount for retired persons? Having been retired for many years out of necessity we have to keep to a very strict budget".
Yes! Any contribution pensioners can make is welcome. Every cent is helping at the moment to pay for the monitors and we are on a very tight budget. We have endeavored to keep the cost to R250 per household per month although other areas such as Wembley are being asked to pay in the region of R500 per month (excluding Armed response and personal home security) towards community policing. However, we are open to giving concessions – please speak to Penny Maitland-Stuart or Sharon Gilbert on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in this regard.