Business community unites to combat Umbilo crime
Blue Security is joining hands with the Umbilo Business Forum (UBF) and the wider business community to launch a dedicated armed response vehicle in the business district on March 1.
Pictured is our community security manager Brendan Porter, Colin Lunsky from Compendium, CPO Protas, Mark van Heerden who is the dealer principal at CMH Toyota Umhlanga, Sergeant Lindo, Clark and Kent director Ian Campbell-Gillies, Roberto Soares from Trailer Sol and Blue security consultant Vinod Phalakdhari.
Clark and Kent director and policy director of the UBF, Ian Campbell-Gillies, said negotiations led to Blue Security sponsoring the armed response officers who would patrol the area in a Toyota Etios hatchback vehicle sponsored by Gateway Toyota with cameras sponsored by solar supply company, Trailer Sol, insurance sponsored by Compendium and the fuel sponsored by the UBF.
“The dedicated vehicle which is branded as Umbilo Blue OPS, is geo-tracked, kitted out with a camera at the rear of the vehicle as well as inward and outward cameras upfront and powerful LED lighting on top of the car,” Campbell-Gillies said. “The cameras on the vehicle can be accessed via a cellphone app, so if contributing members want to see where the vehicle is they simply look on the app. The GPS location will allow the user to see exactly where the vehicle is parked, and will also allow the user to select which camera to view,” he said.
Campbell-Gillies said the high tech, colour cameras and GPS technology via the app would enable the security company to strengthen its back up response for officers in an emergency.
UBF, which has a vision to transform Umbilo into the “Gateway of South Durban” currently has around 50 business members and is growing in numbers monthly, Campbell-Gillies said. Campbell-Gillies thanked the various sponsors saying he had been “blown away” by the surprising amount of goodwill in the community, from both sponsors and members to work together to fight crime and unemployment.
“UBF members are being hammered by crime on almost a weekly basis. The aim of the sponsored dedicated vehicle which will patrol the Alan Paton and Che Guevara areas with a strong focus initially on Williams Road is to dramatically cut Umbilo crime. The vehicle will provide a dedicated armed response service to UBF members who are contracted to Blue Security in the area,” Campbell Gillies said.
Blue Security special projects manager Stephen Wimborne said the company was excited to be working together with the UBF and its various sponsors on the project. “We are confident that a dedicated vehicle will have a positive impact on crime levels and help to drive out unwanted criminal elements. We already have a strong record of arrests in the Umbilo area and look forward to a long partnership with the UBF and our clients to fight crime, so that staff and customers can feel safe again in this important business district,” he said.
