Extra law enforcers for Bellville CBD

Mercia Kleinsmith, white shirt fourth from left, stands with the additional law enforcement officers and trainers at the Bellville civic centre on December 20.
Ten extra City Law Enforcement officers will be patrolling the heart of Bellville until the end of June.

The officers were deployed on December 23 last year as part of the Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme (MURP).
Sub-council 6 chairperson Mercia Kleinsmith said the officers would tackle growing crime and grime in the Bellville CBD, including vagrancy, illegal trading, drug dealing and traffic violations.
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The auxiliary officers would also improve safety at Bellville’s public transport hub May member for urban, patrolling and reporting anti-social behaviour to the Metro Police, said mayoral committee member for urban management Grant Twigg said.

The additional deployment came at a cost of R1.7 million, Mr Twigg said.
The officers will be based at a mobile police office that was set up near the taxi terminus late last year.
Ms Kleinsmith said: “The officers were trained through the Chrysalis Academy, and it is our hope that their presence will help deter the many issues faced in and around the Bellville CBD.”

The Chrysalis Academy is a non-profit youth development organisation, based in Tokai.