LEAP keeping our communities safer with more than 1200 arrests in May

The Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers have once again ensured that criminals are unable to roam our streets. Between 1 May 2023 to 4 June 2023, LEAP officers arrested 1 233 suspects for various offenses, while confiscating 15 firearms. LEAP, which stems from the Western Cape Safety Plan (WCSP) is an initiative of the Western Cape Government (WCG) in partnership with the City of Cape Town (CoCT).

The firearms confiscated are:

• 1x Vector Firearm in Delft
• 1x 38 Special in Kraaifontein
• 1x Norinco in Nyanga
• 2x Zip Gun in Samora Machel
• 1x Firearm in Samora Machel
• 1x Revolver in Mitchells Plain
• 1x Pistol in Philippi East
• 2x Pistol in Manenberg
• 1x Firearm in Manenberg

• 1x Pistol in Harare
• 1x Firearm in Harare
• 1x Pistol in Khayelitsha
• 1x 9mm Firearm in Khayelitsha

Amongst others, the arrests included:

• 17 for the possession of illegal firearms
• 13 for the possession of imitation firearms
• 55 for the possession of dangerous weapons and
• 903 for the possession of drugs

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen said: “The dedicated and professional work that is being done by our LEAP officers is commendable. They put their lives at risk daily to keep us safe, to eradicate crime and to assist in ensuring the murder rate is reduced by 50% by 2029. The reduction of the murder rate is no small feat and while there is a long road ahead of us, LEAP is making a difference in our communities. As the Western Cape government, we regard safety as a priority, and this is part of the reason why we are continuing to invest in our LEAP officers.”

LEAP is strategically deployed, and its operations are based on evidence and data. This approach is also used as part of monitoring and evaluation to determine the effectiveness of LEAP and inform a cycle of continuous improvement. This includes our top 10 murder areas in the Western Cape, such as Delft, Gugulethu, Harare, Khayelitsha (Site B policing precinct), Kraaifontein, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, Philippi East, and Samora Machel. Other high crime areas in which they are deployed are Atlantis, Bishop Lavis and Hanover Park, along with Lavender Hill, Steenberg and Grassy Park.

LEAP officers work with a multitude of law enforcement agencies which is inclusive of other City of Cape Town Law Enforcement Agencies, the South African Police Service (SAPS), neighbourhood watches (NHWs), Community Policing Forums (CPFs) and various other stakeholders.

“I urge our communities to continue working with LEAP, all other law enforcement agencies, SAPS, neighbourhood watches, community policing forums and all relevant law-abiding entities that seeks to create safer communities,” concluded Minister Reagen Allen.