'War room' takes on crime

2008-08-28 13:11

Verashni Pillay

Cape Town - The Western Cape's "Crime War Room" has proved to be a success in its crackdown on serious crimes, police said on Wednesday.

The brainchild of Western Cape police commissioner Mzwandile Petros, the war room was established on May 12 to co-ordinate information from various police stations and streamline investigations from a central base.

Now in its third month, the war room has seen a spate of arrests. Sixty-five suspects were arrested in a 24 hour period between Thursday and Friday last week, on charges including hijackings and robberies. A further 153 were arrested over the last weekend, police spokesperson Captain Elliot Sinyangana said.

Police said the war room has improved co-ordination in investigations, and created an increased flow of information between various stations.

"Senior officers at the war room were mandated to focus on house and business robberies, hijackings, house-breakings, drive-way robberies, theft of motor vehicles and possession of unlicensed firearms," explained Senior Superintendent Billy Jones.

Improved morale

Sinyangana told News24 that the room, based in Cape Town's CBD, has improved morale across the province.

"It helps knowing there are people who are there to help when there is a problem in an investigation, so things don't have to stagnate," he said. "Everybody is working towards a goal and making sure that there is success and no delay."

The war room is set to run indefinitely, continuing to provide a support system to various police stations.

Meanwhile, Sinyangana said public support and the media had bolstered the war room's efforts, and thanked the public for their help in tracking down criminals.

Excitement, motivation and hard work were behind the war room's success, he added.

"The enthusiasm is there because now investigators at different stations feel there is 24 hour support," said Sinyangana.

- News24