Western Cape government says Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers are directly ensuring the number of existing criminals is reduced.
Between 5 September and 30 October LEAP officers ensured 70 illegal firearms are no longer in unscrupulous hands. September saw 26 illegal firearms removed, with 44 confiscated in October.
LEAP, an initiative of the Western Cape Government (WCG), is run in partnership with the City of Cape Town, and is showing significant success in the areas in which it is deployed.
Confiscations occurred in Delft, Gugulethu, Kraaifontein, Steenberg, Harare (Khayelitsha), Nyanga, Philippi, Philippi East, Bishop Lavis, Mfuleni, Manenberg, Atlantis and Mitchells Plain.
From 5 September to 30 October LEAP officers have, among other things: . searched 63 438 persons. searched 2 357 houses. conducted 10 539 patrols in hotspot areas. conducted 807 roadblocks. searched 7 342 vehicles
These officers also effected 1 254 arrests.
These comprised 38 for possession of an illegal firearm, 57 for possession of illegal ammunition, 36 for possession of an imitation firearm, 735 for possession of drugs and 148 for possession of dangerous weapons.
Locally, police have also seen rewards from preventative operations.
Police members attached to the crime prevention unit at Atlantis were doing patrols in the Avondale area when they heard gun shots going off.
They turned in the direction where the shots came from, entered Paragon Street and saw two men running away, one with a firearm in his hand.
A chase then ensued and a 16-year-old male suspect from Bunting Circle, Robinvale was caught and detained.
