Facility Protection Officers deployed to combat extortion, theft and vandalism
30 May 2023
The Facility Protection Officers will work closely with City Law Enforcement’s Rapid Response Unit, Metro Police, Traffic Services, SAPS and communities. Officers will inspect City facilities and escort frontline staff requiring protection in the field, while also playing a general crime prevention role.
Officers will be supported by 200 Facility Protection Monitors deployed to specific facilities to improve overall staff safety and security. Monitors are employed via the Expanded Public Works Programme and recruited from within the communities they will be deployed.
‘With this Facilities Protection Officer initiative, we are pushing back against criminal threats to City staff and public facilities. The programme has a budget of R112 million over three years, an investment the City hopes to recoup in reduced vandalism and theft of critical infrastructure. We are also calling on communities to use our toll-free tip-offs line and cash rewards system for information leading to the arrest of those damaging facilities and making extortion threats against frontline services staff. Together we can protect our community assets, and the staff working faithfully each day to collect our refuse, fix electrical faults, water and sewer networks, roads and more. We can turn the tables on criminals chipping away at our efforts to build a city for all,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.