Obslife, Dec 2009

THE security firm credited with cleaning up the Seapoint improvement district has won the security contract for the Observatory Improvement District (OBSID).

The security firm Vetus Schola has deployed six guards - two in cars and four on bicycles - to patrol the streets of Observatory around the clock.

Their proactive approach, which includes chasing down perpetrators, citizen's arrests, searching of suspects and the firm handling of drinking in public seemed to have taken Obs residents more used to sleepy, reactive security guards by surprise.

Criminals also seem to be startled.

Early signs of Vetus Schola's impact include a marked decrease in theft out of motor vehicles, the arrest of drug dealers and the abrupt expulsion of illegal ''car guards'', long a scourge of businesses and patrons in Lower Main Road.

One Vetus Schola patrol car is dedicated to patrolling the Hartleyvale side of the railway line and the other the mountain side. The bicycle patrollers fan out over the whole of Observatory and concentrate on problem areas. The guards are in radio contact with the police and the Obs Neighbourhood Watch (ONW) and are equipped with cellphones.

Residents are advised to programme the cellphone numbers of the patrol cars into their phones and emergency procedures.

The number of the Hartleyvale-side car is 072 063 8680 and on the mountainside it is 072 063 1653. The white bakkies will be branded soon with the new OBSID logo and cell phone numbers.

Vetus Schola works from the OBSID offices in 21 Lower Main Road, compiles a weekly report to the OBSID management and sits in on joint meetings with the Woodstock police and the ONW.

Matthew Jellen, Vetus Schola officer in charge of the Observatory area, says they complement rather than replace the work of privately contracted armed-response companies. Vetus Schola's job is to secure public spaces, while armed response companies are empowered to enter their client's property even when the owner is not present. He called on residents to maintain their contracts with armed-response firms.

The OBSID's security operation has been strengthened further with the adoption of two Metro police officers who started working from the OBSID offices at the beginning of this month. Their powers of arrest make them an important addition to the OBSID's security effort. They will be concentrating on the enforcement of city bylaws, including illegal parking. The OBSID plans to make car stickers available to locals so that the Metro police officers can apply a certain amount of leniency towards residents.