Cape Town’s rail system to get dedicated and trained ‘railway police’
The R48m needed to operate the unit for a year has come from the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape government and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA
Cape Town’s new railway police will be operational within three months.The R48m to establish and operate the unit for a year is being contributed by the City of Cape Town‚ the Western Cape government and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa).In a joint statement from the three funders on Thursday, they said they had signed a memorandum of agreement which would see at least 100 law enforcement officers patrolling the trains‚ tracks and stations that make up Cape Town’s decaying and crime-ridden rail system."The unit ... will focus on commuter safety as well as vandalism and the theft of crucial Metrorail infrastructure and assets‚" said Brett Herron‚ the MMC for transport. "The unit’s members will rely on technology and crime intelligence‚ and will support the South African Police Service to identify those who are involved in the illicit metals theft industry."The ultimate goal is to address the safety and security issues so that we can stabilise the urban rail service in the short...
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