LEAP officers make their presence felt

On July 1, a further 250 officers will be deployed and another 250 by October 1, bringing the total to 1,000 to help keep communities safe.

CAPE TOWN, April 9 (ANA) – Western Cape MEC for Community Safety Albert Fritz has praised the officers attached to the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) for their continued success.

In a statement released on Friday, Fritz said as part of the safety plan, close to 500 LEAP officers were deployed into hot spots.

On July 1, a further 250 officers will be deployed and another 250 by October 1.

Fritz said this will bring the total number of LEAP officers to 1,000 deployed on the streets and into communities.

“The Western Cape government is doing whatever it takes to ensure we achieve our top priority of realising a safe and prosperous province,” he said.

From March 22 until March 28, LEAP officers’ successes included 3,368 people searched, 123 houses searched, 326 vehicle checkpoints and vehicle searches, 31 inspections of on-consumption and off-consumption liquor premises, and 111 autonomous, integrated and joint operations with the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Fritz said officers made a further 41 arrests during the period under review, including 23 for possession and dealing in drugs, nine for possession of dangerous weapons, three for possession of an imitation firearm and one for possession of illegal ammunition.

Officers also confiscated mandrax tablets, cannabis, unga (heroin), ecstasy, 14.5 packets of methamphetamine and 62 abandoned packets of methamphetamine.

“On behalf of all the people in our communities, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the LEAP officers for the diligence and professionalism with which they have executed their duties. Their work in support of SAPS is already making an impact and leading to our goal of ensuring safer communities,” Fritz added.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher