Speaking at the opening of the SAPS Radio Communication Centre in Midrand on Monday, President Thabo Mbeki said the opening of the sophisticated centre would usher a new era in crime fighting.<\/p>\n
By dialling 10111, irrespective of where you are, call-centre operators will be able to dispatch police who are closer to the crime scene, thereby increasing police efficiency and response times.<\/p>\n
Similar facilities will be launched in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape next year.<\/p>\n
“As we launch this call centre, we usher in a new era in crime fighting across the nation. We vow to increase efforts towards addressing this challenge,” said Mbeki.<\/p>\n
He said the call centre was proof of the country’s determination to “effectively uproot” crime from our society.<\/p>\n
“Vehicle responses will now be much quicker as call centre agents will be able to dispatch cars to the scene of the crime more quickly,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Extra effort is needed to deal decisively with crime,” he said.<\/p>\n
National police spokesman Sally de Beer said the centre was designed to integrate six existing emergency centres into a single 10111 call centre.<\/p>\n
“The new system will ensure effective control over police vehicles. Every vehicle and each policeman on duty will be in possession of a new digital radio which can be used as a normal two-way radio or as a cellphone,” she said.<\/p>\n