Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Alderman JP Smith visited the Metro Police K-9 unit today with the purpose to discuss the expansion of the unit with more dogs. There are plans for a new training and kennel facility.
Over the last year, the K-9 unit has taken part in more than 500 operations focused on drugs, firearms, explosives, copper theft, missing persons and more with 192 drug-related drug arrests over the same period.
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“This unit is a great example of how the City has invested in building a more capable and effective City police service. This unit has become a key part of our efforts to make Cape Town safer for all. Its success gives weight to the call we have been making for the devolution of more policing powers to the City,” says Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
“We are implementing a record R5,4bn safety budget this year and deploying an additional 230 officers. We are doing everything within our limited ability and resources to make Cape Town safer – but we can do more to make residents feel safer through our Law Enforcement and Metro Police officers being empowered by Section 99 of the Constitution to create a fully-fledged City police service,” he adds.
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Training scope for K9 Unit:
According to the City, the rigorous three-month training the dogs go through tests them on different disciplines and assesses their individual temperament. The training determines whether they are assigned to detect narcotics or explosives. This period also serves as a time to bond with their handlers and form a trusting relationship.
Once this phase of training is complete, the dogs become active recruits and are ready to go out in the field. The skills learnt in training are repeated regularly once they are working to ensure that the quality of detection is maintained up until retirement.
Alderman JP Smith, the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, says: “The ongoing and undisputed value of our loyal K9s have secured a permanent position within the ranks of our Metro Police, but more so within the hearts of Cape Town’s citizens. The public’s heartfelt appreciation for these service animals is perhaps only outpaced by the love and trust that exists between each handler and their assigned K9 partner. We have already begun costing exercises to determine how best we are able to expand the unit, to allow us to offer even greater support to these various departments.”
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Picture: Supplied