LEAP deployment nearly doubles in Delft to combat highest murder rate in WC

LEAP deployment nearly doubles in Delft to combat highest murder rate in the province

On 1 July 2023, the Western Cape Government (WCG) and its partner, the City of Cape Town (CoCT), deployed a further 68 Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers in an effort to strengthen crime fighting efforts in Delft. This brings the total number of LEAP officers based in Delft to 141, nearly doubling the LEAP officers in the area from, the 73 officers that are already serving the area. This is the biggest deployment in any single precinct. LEAP, which stems from the Western Cape Safety Plan (WCSP) is an initiative of the WCG in partnership with the CoCT.

This intervention is squarely focussed on addressing the continued murder levels in the Delft area. The fourth quarter crime statistics, January to March 2023 revealed that Delft is the number one murder precinct in the province and third in the country. Throughout the 2022/23 financial year, Delft has been in the top 2 precincts for murder in the province. During the first quarter, April to June 2022, the precinct was also number one in the province. For the second and third quarter, it was number two in the province.

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen said: “The evidence, data and need are crystal clear, and this is part of the reason why we are deploying additional resources to the area. These additional men and women are extra boots on the ground. They are already creating greater visibility and most definitely closing hiding and operational spaces for those with criminal intent.”

Minister Reagen Allen added: “We want these and many other areas similar to Delft to know that the WCG will not idly sit around and allow criminals to have their way. We have the safety and wellbeing of our communities at heart. This intervention by the WCG is one of the clearest demonstrations of our determination to reduce the murder rate by 50% by 2029.”

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.

“It is critical that the community of Delft assist LEAP offices and all other law enforcement agencies, including SAPS to arrest the escalating murders and other forms of crime in their area. Let us restore the pride of Delft and ensure that along with all communities across our province, it too becomes safer. The onus is on all of us if we are to overcome these alarming crime patterns,” concluded Minister Reagen Allen.