Western Cape’s Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP), provincial government, SAPS, arrests, searches, roadblocks

Western Cape’s Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers made 176 arrests in seven days. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

LEAP officers make 176 arrests in one week in Western Cape

The Western Cape’s Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) made a whopping 176 arrests in just seven days.

Western Cape’s Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP), provincial government, SAPS, arrests, searches, roadblocks

Western Cape’s Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers made 176 arrests in seven days. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

Around 176 arrests have been made in a week by the Western Cape’s Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP), said the provincial government. In 2020, the Western Cape provincial government started the LEAP unit.

Around 176 arrests were made in seven days

On Sunday, the government announced that between 16 and 22 May, 176 perpetrators were apprehended for a number of offences by LEAP officers. Breaking it down, 91 were arrested for being in possession of drugs, 22 for possession of dangerous weapons and the rest were arrested for a variety of other offences.

ALSO READ: “It’s sabotage” – 14 arrested for decimated Eskom’s cable supply

The illegal firearms were confiscated in Kraaifontein, Gugulethu and Delft. MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety Reagen Allen said that LEAP’s impact against crime is being seen and felt by communities.

“Where LEAP is deployed, its impact against crime is being seen and felt by communities. This confirms why visible policing through boots on the ground is so important. Perhaps these successes will convince the national minister of police why additional resources are required and so well deserved,”

said Allen.

Searches and roadblocks were conducted by LEAP officers

In seven days, the LEAP unit conducted 8 540 searches on people. 395 houses and 955 vehicles were searched while 90 roadblocks were conducted.

Allen thanked communities for supporting and assisting LEAP officers. He explained that they will continue to rely on communities to achieve greater success.

“I’d like to thank communities for their continued support and assistance to the LEAP officers. Their vigilance and reporting have ensured that perpetrators could be tracked and arrested. We’ll continue to rely on all our communities and the various volunteer structures if we’re to achieve greater success, and halve the murder rate by 2029,”

he said.

Officers also worked with the SAPS

TimesLIVE reports that LEAP officers have been part of 12 integrated operations. These operations were conducted with other City of Cape Town law enforcement agencies. Another 168 operations were conduct4ed with the South African Police Service (SAPS).