New number plate recognition technology to be launched soon
New number plate recognition technology to be launched soon
Business Against Crime South Africa is to launch a new number plate next month, which will be recognised in business premises across the country in an effort to combat crime. This technology will help in identifying stolen cars, some of which are used in committing crimes.
Business crimes in South Africa are on the rise. They are getting more violent and extreme. Supermarkets, stores and even shopping malls have fallen prey to armed robbers. Business, security experts and communities are calling on police to step up their efforts in clamping down on these crimes.
In recent months South Africa has seen an increase in robberies at shopping malls. Law enforcement agencies believe the festive season is fast approaching and criminal are targeting business premises now and saving money to spend around Christmas time.
Security expert, Shaheen Suleiman also says these crimes are becoming more often and police along with private security companies are having a hard time investigating them as criminals are becoming more specialised.
“They have gone very brave lately, house break-ins and robbers are coming in with AK47s. You can see the guys are well trained, they know what to do. When it comes and when they break into the houses they are very selective of what they’re taking as well. They take the original stuff.”
Business Against Crime South Africa – an organisation that deals with reducing crime – will be introducing a new number plate recognition technology in November this year across the country.
Business Against Crime South Africa CEO Simi Pillay van Graan says this technology will help in the identification of stolen cars in business premises.
“We will be launching our automatic number plates recognition system which is our own data base. This will be a central data base that will capture all the info or streaming from our camera through out the country – this will then be analysed and immediately given to the police who will have direct access to it. This will enable us or the police to respond immediately if there a stolen vehicle that entered a premise.”
South African Police Service spokesperson Jay Naicker agrees that these robberies are a challenge. “The most common robberies we are experiencing are robberies on supermarkets and spaza shops, clothing stores and a lot of informal business that are experiencing robberies. And it becomes very difficult for police, especially when it comes from the informal trade where they are being targeting because of lack of security.”
Charlton Sibaca is the leader of a Community Police Forum in Pinetown, west of Durban. He says the calibre of firearms used by criminals is disturbing and that police should work on efforts to eliminate crime.
“I’m also worried about these firearms because the police are trying to get hold of these firearms but i wonder where do they come from you find that a young man who doesn’t even have experience of using a gun is having a gun and really there are there these firearms are the things that make these people to be so brave and go and do these robberies and they know if they just point a person with a firearm obviously that person is going to be afraid so if we can try some other means of getting rid of these firearms.”
Suleiman believes the crime rate would drastically dwindle down if there is better visible policing.
Source: sabc.co.za