Paarl CBD gets own police
2005-04-07
CENTRAL PAARL is being policed by its own officials again - with an immediate decrease in crime.
The Paarl Sector Police moved into the United building earlier this year, after businessman Dennis Minitzer donated an office - complete with furniture and air-conditioning.
All calls received by the Paarl police station (807-4000) or the emergency number 1-0111 are relayed to the Sector office.
“We can react immediately,” says Insp Stoney Steenkamp.
“Not only do we get to know the area and its inhabitants, the business people get to know us as well.
“It is reassuring to notice the decrease in crime in central Paarl.”
The nine policemen cover the area between Van der Lingen Street and Hospital Street, Main Street and the Berg River. They work a daily nine to five shift, and hope to extend their services around the clock.
The unit was established with R25 000 donated by British American Tobacco. Many other businesses have joined in, like WP Cellular who donated cellular telephones.
The unit’s patrol vehicle is constantly on the road. A full-time detective has now also been allocated to the sector.
“Our main problem is the Lower New Street area, and the most complaints are against the vendors on the sidewalks and the so-called parking attendants,” Insp Steenkamp says.
“We work very closely with the municipal law enforcement unit and we have had tremendous success by taking suspects for fingerprint identification.”
The sector’s number for emergencies is 072-665-7156.
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