24 Nov 2009

I hope many of you will be aware of the arrival of Vetus Schola in theObsid area. The contract formally started on 15th November. We have two vehicles in the area, one of which is concentrating on the Hartleyvale side, as well as 4 bicycle patrollers all 24 hours perday, 7 days per week.

The Hartleyvale side vehicle has the radio call sign Charlie Delta 20 and the cell number 072 055 8680. The vehicle on the mountain side of the railway has the radio call sign Charlie Delta 19 and the cellnumber 072 063 1653. Each vehicle has an ONW radio as well as their ownVetus Schola radios, with the effect that the vehicles can communicatewith ONW, SAPS and Obsid office and in turn back to the cycle patrols.The vehicles, white Corsas, will be painted up for ease of identification.

Vetus Schola are responsible to maintain security in our roads and public open spaces, they are not meant to be or to replace your private security service provider and indeed they have no right to enter your property unless invited to do so.

However if there is anything that you feel uncomfortable about on the street give them a call and they will respond to you. So far in my dealings with them I have found them to be super efficient.

In the first eleven days they have reported 82 incidents, mostly around vagrancy, drug dealers, car guards, drinking in public and searching suspicious people. They have thwarted two attempted break-ins and been involved in four arrests. They have been getting to know the criminals in the area and establishing their authority.

My sense is that the streets are already safer.

Brian Amery, COO