Knysna has seen its fair share of serious crime in recent years. In addition to the normal house break-ins and theft, there have been a number of high profile cases, some committed by out-of-town elements.
One of the cameras in the CBD. Photo: Blake Linder
CCTV footage in Knysna has recently aided crime-fighting efforts all around town, helping police investigations on a few occasions.
According to Allsound Security spokesperson Ashley Boetius, some years ago the Knysna CCTV Project spearheaded an initiative to secure funding through the Knysna Municipality for CCTV cameras to be installed at key locations in the Knysna CBD.
Due to limited funds, the extension of this CCTV network has not been possible before. However, with a team of committed members of the Knysna Safety & Security Initiative (KSSI) and in association with the Greater Knysna Business Chamber, the CCTVs are currently being incorporated into the KSSI and the next phase of CCTV installations is imminent. “CCTV on its own is of limited use,” cautions KSSI chairperson Ray Ferguson.
“It absolutely needs to be built into a broader initiative involving capable monitoring, recording backup, trained and dedicated personnel to follow up on events, and finally, a broad inter-town tactical network to respond. Only once this full package is in place, can CCTV really play its role.”
Knysna has seen its fair share of serious crime in recent years. In addition to the normal house break-ins and theft, there have been a number of high profile cases, some committed by out-of-town elements.
Many man hours and lots of commitment have gone in behind the scenes, to fully utilise available cameras in assisting the police.
Some terrific arrests have been made thanks to CCTV cameras, notably three recent serious cases, one of which was the armed cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery in Knysna on Saturday 26 June, where CCTV footage in the vicinity of the incident aided police in identifying the suspects’ vehicle.
This led to the vehicle being stopped outside Mossel Bay and the driver being arrested.
Unfortunately, not every crime can be solved, as all too often there is no CCTV coverage. “We would like to see Knysna become a no-go zone for criminals and strongly feel that the only way to do this is with an extensive camera network, making it more difficult for criminals to escape,” says Ferguson.
“Eyewitnesses are notoriously unreliable and can often make mistakes or buckle on the witness stand. CCTV footage does not get it wrong. It tells it like it is and once downloaded, is always available to give evidence. We hope that the value of CCTV footage will be embraced by the courts and be allowed to play its vital evidentiary role in securing convictions.”
Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Christopher Spies acknowledges the role CCTV footage has played in fighting local crime.
“The implementation of CCTV cameras in and around the central business district of Knysna as well as some neighbourhoods plays a pivotal role in our crime-fighting efforts. It assists the police to rapidly respond to crime incidents, tracing of suspects and the investigation of crime,” he says.
Since taking over the Knysna CCTV Project, KSSI has established a comprehensive plan to extend the CCTV network around Knysna and hopes to start with the first phase in the coming weeks.
The Greater Knysna Business Chamber has partnered with KSSI in this effort and all residents of Knysna are encouraged to get on board and contribute to this vital cause. For more information on how you can assist in making a difference, please contact Ray Ferguson of KSSI at rayfergscx@gmail.com
‘We bring you the latest Knysna | Garden Route news’