The City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) recorded a nearly 80% increase in assault calls this past weekend compared to last weekend, in addition to a near 50% increase in domestic violence reports.
The PECC fielded 140 assault calls (compared to 78 the previous weekend), of which 41 were physical assault incidents and 98 were assault with a weapon.
Domestic violence calls increased from 36 to 53, and there was an uptick in motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents – from 45 last weekend to 66 from Friday to Sunday.
Officers also confiscated six guns and arrested 12 men in connection with the firearms since Friday evening.
The Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says the City’s enforcement departments brace themselves for payday weekends, as a massive spike in violence and recklessness marks it.
“The first and last weekends of the month are our busiest, and our officers will continue with patrols, checkpoints and road blocks.”
Smith adds that while the seizure of illicit firearms once again dominated payday weekend, there are many more still in the hands of criminals.
“The City is doing as much as it can with limited resources and we need national government to come to the party so we can stop the flood of guns being used to terrorise our neighbourhoods. The City is ready and able to do more, but we need the increased powers we’ve been calling for.”
In general enforcement over the past week, Law Enforcement officers arrested 166 suspects and issued 4,992 notices for various transgressions.
Their Metro Police counterparts arrested 53 suspects and issued 2,795 fines during weekly patrols, while Traffic officers made 22 arrests (13 for driving under the influence, recorded 32,525 offences, impounded 198 public transport vehicles and executed 1,549 warrants of arrest.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) recorded a total of 1,641 incidents.
Emergency incidents can be reported to the PECC on 021 480 7700 from a cell phone, or by dialling 107 from a landline.
