On Friday, the Western Cape Government and the City of Cape Town added new 500 Learner Law Enforcement Officers (LLEOs) to the force after the recruits signed their employment contracts with the City of Cape Town.
The first 500 LLEOs will be deployed from February to the communities where they are needed most. In their first few months of deployment the officers will receive an induction which includes in-field training to orientate them in the communities where they will be deployed.
The second group of 500 LLEOs are expected to be appointed by July 2020. Ultimately, the Western Cape Safety Plan foresees a total deployment of 3000 officers.
Minister Fritz said, “I commend Premier Winde and Mayor Plato on their support and leadership. The deployment of the first 500 LLEOs will take place in communities most affected by violence, which is informed by data taken from the top 10 crime hotspots. Through our deployment interventions and targeted violence prevention programmes, the Western Cape Safety Plan aims to halve the murder rate over the next 10 years.”
Minister Fritz added, “This month we will further hold the first Safety Cabinet meeting which will play a crucial role in outlining and implementing the socio-economic interventions necessary to address the root causes of crime, which will complement the deployment of the additional LLEOs in identified hotspot areas.”
“I am excited to see the roll out of the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan which shows how the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government can work together in addressing one of our biggest challenges – that of safety on our roads and in our communities. More officers on the beat will mean a higher visibility and improving service delivery in our fight against crime. Our responsibility is not only to take criminals off the streets but also to protect the constitutional rights of our citizen – a right to a safe environment. With no clear indication that the South African Police Service will increase resources soon, we will fill the gap and initiate programmes in the interest of public safety. We stay committed to work with all enforcement agencies and communities to ensure effective crime prevention, ” Alderman JP Smith.