Thank you for showing an interest in our NHW
As an NHW what are we trying to achieve?
We live in one of the most beautiful areas of Knysna. Much of our area is open with little physical security, such as electric fences. razor wire or 3-metre high fencing.
We want to keep it that way. We are not going to stop crime, but we want to keep it to the absolute minimum by making it as difficult as possible for criminals to operate in our area.
Back in 2015/16, we had a very high crime rate in our area. To the point where residents were uncomfortable using their outside areas. We relied heavily on volunteer patrollers to deter criminals. Patrolling is effective as Allsound and SAPs will tell you, but it was and still is a difficult task to recruit patrollers, especially during unsociable hours and at weekends. So we needed something else to complement our Crime Prevention strategies.
In 2017 the NHW committee decided that CCTV Cameras should be used to improve security. After much hard work from our committee, the municipality gave us a grant of R120000 out of the ward security budget for CCTV cameras and associated equipment. After a tender process, it was decided to purchase 5 cameras and a network from Allsound. Allsound were already our partners in the NHW and had a large majority of households in our area as customers.
The cameras were installed at strategic points, on advice from SAPS and Allsound. They record 24 hours and are actively monitored by Allsound from 2200-0600.
This was just the start
In 2018 we negotiated another grant from the municipality for R96000. With this money, 4 more cameras were installed with additional infrastructure and Amble Ridge also kindly donated a camera to the NHW.
Shortly another camera donated by a resident was sited at the Circle end of Fraser Street.
However, from 2019. Municipality funding ceased, so the burden of financing the camera network was down to the residents. The HRF NHW Membership was introduced, whereby residents made a voluntary contribution to pay for camera monitoring, maintenance and new and replacement cameras.
We are now in 2022 and thanks to our resident contributions and our partnership with Hunters Village, Hunters Retirement Centre, Forest Gardens, the Private Hospital and the Doctors’ rooms, we have 30 cameras in our area and a low crime level which is the envy of many other suburbs.
Let’s take a look at where these cameras are located and why. Residents ask, why is there a camera there and not here? There are three requirements for a camera location:
- Line of sight for the signal to the high site relay stations and then to allsound facilities for recording and monitoring.
- Electrical power
- Ideally lighted area
So sometimes you might not be able to put the camera in the PERFECT position.
Has our NHW been successful?
Overwhelmingly yes. Our crime rate in 2022 is 1-2 minor incidents per month, In 2015/16 we had 25-30 house burglaries.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the growth of our NHW