Latest news with #crimeprevention
News24
a day ago
- Business
- News24
‘Uber for security': SaferCity Panic App offers fast access to emergency response
The SaferCity Panic App includes panic assistance, real-time tracking, crime reporting, crime hotspot alerts, and support for gender-based violence victims. The app funds local CPF structures with a portion of subscriptions, boosting resources like cameras and patrols to enhance safety. Deployed in Gauteng's Soweto, SaferCity has significantly reduced incidents like cellphone tower vandalism while providing fast, direct access to emergency responders. A leading safety and technology solutions provider aims to make South Africa safer through its innovative application. SaferCity Panic App is a unique technology platform that seeks to unite private security, law enforcement, community police forums, and to provide emergency response, intelligence, and networking. Launched in 2023, the app is designed to empower users with a tool that allows them to swiftly request medical and emergency assistance and report crime. SaferCity CEO Theo Pouroullis described the app as 'an Uber for security', as it allows its customers to have access to the nearest emergency responder in the event they find themselves in a distressing situation. 'For example, we had an incident where a client of ours had a contractor who was fixing a gate on the client's property, and the contractor grinded off two of his fingers. Our client pressed the panic button and the ambulance was there within 15 minutes,' said Pouroullis. He said the app was not only limited to medical emergencies but extended to other features. Pouroullis said the app includes a funding mechanism for local CPFs where a fraction of every subscription is donated to the CPF structures. 'At a cost of R4.35/user per month, some 10 000 users for a specific area could enable the CPF to receive R43 500 per month in funding. This covers the development of the Joint Operations Command Centre of the CPF for the Gauteng province and, in certain areas, the acquisition of additional cameras to monitor flagged vehicles using licence plate recognition cameras and tamper devices for electrical infrastructure,' he said. Pouroullis said there were three devices that accompany the app, which include a smartwatch that allows clients to push the panic or SOS button. READ | No arrests: Boy, 14, among seven dead after bloody Cape Flats weekend Recently, Pouroullis said they rescued a client who was kidnapped during a hijacking in Gauteng's East Rand after they received an alert. 'There was a vehicle that was hijacked, and they took the driver to an illegal mining area on the East Rand. Our guys were able to intercept (the criminals), and we caught one suspect. The other two fled. It was in the middle of the night. But we rescued the driver. It was an express kidnapping that took place,' he said. The Gauteng CPF board chairperson, TJ Masilela, said the partnership with SaferCity has yielded success over the past year, and they have seen a decrease in some crime categories. Masilela said: SaferCity was deployed in the 14 Soweto police stations, and within six months, we saw a decrease in the number of damage to infrastructure of cellphone towers. We used to get over 30 reports per week related to damage to the infrastructure of towers, but that has decreased to less than five per week because of this app. He said CPF members found the app convenient as it gave communities direct access to emergency responders.
Entrepreneur
2 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Presight and Abu Dhabi Police to Drive AI-Enabled Law Enforcement and Smart City Innovation
The partnership will accelerate the deployment of intelligent systems that enable proactive crime prevention, real-time threat detection, digital forensics, and predictive analytics. You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Presight, an ADX-listed public company with Abu Dhabi-based G42 as its majority shareholder, has entered a strategic cooperation agreement with Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters (GHQ) to develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies for law enforcement. The collaboration aims to integrate the capabilities of Presight's AI-Policing Suite – a modular, future-ready solution that leverages Generative AI, AI agents, and advanced data analytics – with Abu Dhabi Police's operational excellence to address modern challenges in policing and smart city development. The partnership will accelerate the deployment of intelligent systems that enable proactive crime prevention, real-time threat detection, digital forensics, and predictive analytics. Attending the ceremony were His Excellency Ahmed Saif bin Zaitoon AlMheiri, Commander-General of Abu Dhabi Police, His Excellency Mansoor Al Mansoori, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Chairman of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, and Vice Chairman of Presight; Thomas Pramotedham, CEO of Presight; and Dr Adel Al Sharji, COO of Presight, and Mohammed AlMheiri, Chief Business Officer - Public Safety & Security. Major General/Engineer Nasir Sultan Al-Yabhouni, Director of the Leadership Affairs Sector at Abu Dhabi Police, said, "Our partnership with Presight helps us benefit from world-leading artificial intelligence technologies that will enhance our policing capabilities and take them to new heights. This collaboration supports our efforts to maintain public safety through innovation, which means strengthening our officers' ability to respond faster, make smarter decisions, and make Abu Dhabi a safer and more secure place." Mohammed AlMheiri, Chief Business Officer - Public Safety & Security, Presight, said, "This strategic agreement marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI-driven public safety. Presight, together with Abu Dhabi Police, are enabling a new era of proactive, data-driven law enforcement, which will drive a shift towards applied intelligence-led policing defined by enhancements in decision-making and operational agility. Our platform's intelligent digital investigator, real-time threat detection, and predictive analytics capabilities empower officers to anticipate and respond to challenges with unprecedented speed and precision. Together, we are shaping a future where cities are not only smarter, but fundamentally safer." This strategic alliance supports the transformation of public safety infrastructure, enabling enhanced decision-making and streamlined emergency response. The joint efforts will also explore innovative models to modernize law enforcement practices, emphasizing ethical AI usage and data-driven policing. The partnership is a significant step forward in realizing Abu Dhabi's vision of a future-ready, AI-enabled smart nation, reinforcing its position as a global leader in technology adoption and urban safety.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Warning of 'trouble' in Trowbridge without more youth facilities
A small business owner has warned politicians and police to "expect trouble" unless more money is invested in youth Witter, who co-founded Food Amore restaurant in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, said she regularly witnessed anti-social behaviour among young people in the town. Police and crime commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson has vowed to tackle the issue as well as introducing a Public Spaces Protection Order. "We just need more resource and more grants and more money to do more," said Wiltshire councillor Jo Trigg. Trowbridge residents, businesses and councillors met with the PCC at an event last week to discuss their concerns about crime in the town. Ms Witter said she was particularly concerned about young people's behaviour during the summer holidays."Apart from the skate park, where is there for these children to go? So don't be surprised when they're hanging out outside The Shires making the place look a bit risky."The children that don't tend to hang out, will hang out. That will become their culture. Then they'll start mixing with the wrong crowd, and then what? "Kids are easily influenced," she added. "You need to nip it in the bud, because you're dragging good kids into bad trouble." Ms Witter suggested a share of the £9m invested on restoring the town hall would have been better spent on a community centre. Kowann O'Neill, an 18-year-old from the town, said he frequently sees underage drinkers. He said: "Lots of kids would rather go out, get drunk and do drugs because there's not enough entertainment or any fun activities."These kids are going to grow up with the worst reputation, their education is ruined. "They're not going to have good jobs. It is just sad." Police community support officer Harry Brain patrols the town centre, speaking to intoxicated people and drug users to signpost them to the help available. He said there was an increase in this type of behaviour over the past year, but described a "massive decrease" in recent weeks. However, Mr Brain said business owners told him they see anti-social behaviour "24/7". Mr Brain said it was vital anybody who had concerns about behaviour in the town reports it to the police."There has been a few issues in the past with communication between the agencies and who's responsible for what," he said."I think we are seeing that the responsibilities are more shared and we know exactly what we should be doing and where we should be going," he added. He said reporting problems will help police in the long-term by showing them where patrols should be carried out. Ms Trigg is also a trustee for the charity Trowbridge Future, which runs youth activities.A venue on Mill Street opened last year following an award of more than £430,000 in National Lottery Trigg has said "more and more" teens are going to the building to seek a safe space to hang out.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Street marshals become 'eyes and ears' of St Ives
A pilot scheme has been launched for street marshals to be the "eyes and ears" of a Cornish town over the Ives Town Council said the scheme aimed to address the pressures placed on the town with spikes in antisocial behaviour and petty crime during the summer council, in close partnership with St Ives BID [business improvement district], said it was funding the scheme following the positive impact similar teams had had in Penzance, Truro and Camborne. Marshals would be employed by "trusted partner" Infinitus Security Ltd, which manage and monitor the CCTV system in the town centre, the council said. 'Multi-agency approach' The council said the marshals were not a substitute for police, but they would be working very closely alongside them. St Ives BID manager Sarah Hooper said the multi-agency approach would strengthen intelligence sharing and enable a more "effective response to local issues"."Street marshals provide a vital, visible presence in the town, offering reassurance to residents, visitors and businesses, while actively helping to reduce antisocial behaviour and crime," she of St Ives Johnnie Wells said the initiative would help keep the town "safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone". Insp Dee Evans, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said the new initiative was a "really positive step" for St said: "The introduction of summer street marshals will strengthen our partnership approach to tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, particularly during the busiest months of the year."By working closely with the police and local services, the marshals will provide a visible, reassuring presence and support early intervention in areas of concern."
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Policing must be seen to be even-handed
The first of Robert Peel's nine principles of policing, set out as long ago as 1829, is 'to prevent crime and disorder as an alternative to their repression by military force and severity of legal punishment'. The then Home Secretary was responding to the great fear of the authorities in the aftermath of the French Revolution: the mob. Once disorder gets a hold, dealing with it becomes increasingly difficult, requiring recourse to the Army, as happened in Northern Ireland in 1969. The simmering resentment felt in parts of the country about the way illegal migrants have been imposed on communities with no consultation whatsoever is not yet at that level. But as Nigel Farage said this week, we may be on the edge of serious civil disobedience, yet no longer possess the means to contain it. We depend on the police to keep matters under control, though in truth much of the fault lies with the Government. Labour promised that hotels would no longer be employed to house illegal immigrants and yet they are now being used more than ever. In Epping, a hotel has become a target for local protests by people no longer prepared to accept scores of young men being foisted on them. The residents are exercising their rights to object to a set of circumstances over which they have no control and about which they were never consulted. When they hear themselves described as racist thugs they are entitled to feel aggrieved. Essex Police, which has been criticised for the way it has handled days of protests, claims to have been even-handed. But by escorting pro-migrant demonstrators to the hotel, essentially to confront local people, the force's impartiality is open to question. Moreover, it has unwittingly encouraged extremists from the Left and Right to descend on Epping to cause the very trouble the police are meant to prevent. The force must be seen to act in an even-handed way while ensuring the two sides do not end up fighting one another in the streets. No one pretends this is easy but it will require the sort of adept policing that has not been the forte of Essex constabulary, to put it charitably. In the end, the fault lies with the abject failure of the Home Office to find realistic alternatives to hotels for migrants who have crossed the Channel. It is time the ex-military camps, that were once going to be used to incarcerate and process the arrivals, were reopened.
