Since the BVRA Security Scheme benefits the whole of Bishopscourt Village, all residents should subscribe to it unless they can genuinely not afford to do so. Contact us about signing up today!
Q: What exactly is the BVRA Security Scheme?
A: The current Security Scheme is primarily the Bicycle Patrol (BP). An extra layer of security is provided by a network of licence plate recognition (LPR) cameras which monitor all vehicle access to the entire suburb of Bishopscourt (including our Village). The existing camera network is monitored by Verifier, under the auspices of Bishopscourt Neighbourhood Watch.
Q: How does the Bicycle Patrol operate?
A: The BVRA Bicycle Patrol provides ground-level security coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Three officers are employed on a continuous roster cycle, working 12 hour shifts = 3 days on, 4 nights on and then 3 days off, then 4 days on, 3 nights on and 4 days off. They cover the whole of BV every hour and have to tag 24 baton points along an assigned route within the hour. The tag points are designed so that the BP officer passes every house at least once on each route. There are 2 different routes (route A and route B) which get assigned at different times of day.
Q: How can a Bicycle Patrol officer prevent crime?
A: A bicycle patrol will not result in zero crime – no scheme will. It is a proactive effort to prevent opportunistic crime, allowing us to feel safer in our neighbourhood. Bicycle Patrol officers raise an alert if they notice security lapses such as driveway gates or garage doors standing open, and if unsuccessful in contacting the resident, they will report the incident to their control room as well as on the BV Security Coordinator WhatsApp group. They are also in radio contact with their local ADT supervisor and ADT control room. If required, ADT will despatch the nearest Armed response vehicle to provide back-up to the on-duty officer. In addition, they assist with Fidelity ADT’s ‘meet and greet’ home rendezvous service when called upon to do so. Residents still need to remain alert at all times and ensure that their property is protected by adequate security measures.
Q: My property is protected by cameras and an alarm system with armed response; why should I pay for the BVRA Security Scheme too?
A. The BVRA Security Scheme covers the whole village as a collective, keeping the streets safer for everyone – residents, visitors and domestic staff. The BP officers keep an eye out for boundary gates/doors that are left open (if an adjoining property is standing open, can people access your property?), they question and report suspicious people and alert ADT Control if people need to be discouraged from setting up camp in the greenbelt or river garden. They regularly report street lights that are not working or if water is running to waste, they have alerted us about fallen branches blocking roadways, have stopped an informal trader trying to set up shop on a verge near Edinburgh Drive, and they report vehicle or pedestrian accidents. They also report lost & found pets and valuables eg keys, wallets and cellphones, and this info is shared with residents via the BVRA’s network of street reps. We (the BVRA committee) view membership of the BVRA and subscription to the Security scheme as a necessary “package” for all BV residents who can afford it. So, we do hope that you will sign up.
Q: Who employs the BP officers, and what do they get paid?
A: The BVRA doesn’t employ the officers. We contract ADT (Fidelity-ADT) to provide the Bicycle Patrol service, and ADT assigns suitably trained and qualified officers to work in BV. Their salaries are determined by ADT. ADT supplies their uniforms, rain gear, bicycles and any other equipment.
Q: If ADT runs the Bicycle Patrol, where does the BVRA fit in and what value do they add?
A: Unlike in other suburbs, the BVRA committee actively monitors the efficiency of the Bicycle Patrol (BP) and we develop a relationship with our BP officers who tend to stay with us for many years. This makes for a win-win situation: we don’t have a constant flux of officers rotating through our area, getting familiar with our streets and routines. Many ADT officers find it too onerous to work in BV, and prefer to work elsewhere. In order to keep a loyal crew of high-calibre BP officers, the BVRA incentivises them with a monthly performance bonus (>90% shifts have to be started on time with all 24 points tagged) and provides them with cellphones and data. The BP officers, their local ADT supervisor and select BVRA Committee members have a WhatsApp group for rapid communication and so that the officers can report any problems or issues, with photos (found pets, wallets, keys, etc; open gates, garage doors or car windows; passersby or vagrants behaving unacceptably, etc). We also have a system whereby a “coffee brigade” of volunteer residents provide sandwiches and a flask of coffee/tea to the night duty officer. All of this helps us to retain “our” officers, so that we don’t have a constant stream of chaps working here.
Q: Who checks that the BP officers are doing what is required of them?
A: Fidelity ADT’s Baton Monitoring System generates 24-hour efficiency reports which the BV Security Coordinator receives daily. The BP officers or their supervisor are required to provide reasons for any incomplete patrols, and the BV Security Coordinator interrogates this where necessary.
Q. Are there any other advantages in subscribing to the BVRA Security Scheme?
A: Subscription automatically confers free BVRA membership, and Security Scheme subscribers will receive security alerts and crime reports via email on an ad hoc basis. Subscribers who are Fidelity-ADT clients have the added benefit of discounted alarm monitoring and armed response fees.
Q. What does it cost to subscribe to the BVRA Security Scheme and how can I pay?
A: Subscription options for the financial year 1 July 2024 – 31 June 2025 are:
| Annual up-front payment | R 3 760 p.a. |
| Bi-annual (1 July & 1 January) | R 2 060 x 2 p.a. |
| Monthly payment | R 375 x 12 p.m. |
Please contact us about your preferred subscription option. We will send you an invoice containing the BVRA banking details. If you are joining during the financial year and would like to benefit from the discount for paying upfront, please let us know and we will calculate a personalised rate for you.
Q: What percentage of households subscribe to the BV Security Scheme?
A: The number of households which subscribe generally exceeds 70%, which is regarded as a high level of uptake. At any one stage about 10% of houses are vacant or the occupants are transitioning, which leads to periods of several months before new owners or occupants are signed up. There are some residents who simply refuse to engage with us, and others who genuinely can’t afford it.
Q: How did the BVRA Security Scheme start?
A: Bishopscourt Village’s Security Scheme started on 1st December 2002 with the launch of a Bicycle Patrol. It immediately brought about a noticeable decrease in incidents of crime in the Village. In 2017 the BVRA Security Scheme was augmented by the installation of License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras throughout Bishopscourt. These cameras are part of a greater network of cameras across Cape Town’s southern suburbs which are monitored automatically by Verifier using LPRCloudSA.
Crime Reporting
All BV residents – including non-members of the BVRA – are requested to report incidents of crime to the BV Security Coordinator and to Claremont SAPS immediately after the crime has occurred. Residents are also encouraged to notify Fidelity ADT (or your own security provider) and the BV Security Coordinator about any suspicious persons or activities.
Contact details for crime reporting:
a) BVRA Security Coordinator – security@bvra.org.za
b) Fidelity ADT – 086 12 12 300
c) SAPS Claremont – 021 657 2250 / 2240
d) SAPS Flying Squad — 10111
If a crime is being committed:
Immediately activate your panic alarm to notify your security company.
If your vehicle has been stolen:
Contact SAPS to open a case docket. You will need your vehicle registration papers.
Reporting suspicious person(s):
Before reporting any suspicious person or activity, ensure that you have a clear idea as to what has made you suspicious. A person’s skin colour or clothing do not constitute suspicious behaviour; actions do. Security responders will not accost someone on a “feeling” that someone merely looked suspicious.
Details needed when reporting crime/suspicious persons:
- Location, including direction from/to which the vehicle/person came/is heading
- Description of the vehicle/person, with attention given to identifying characteristics such as:
- vehicles: state of repair including scrapes, rust, missing licence plate/hubcap/light, etc;
- people: size/build, facial features, scars etc; concentrate on what is worn on the lower half of the body, especially shoes: hats/beanies & jackets can easily be taken off or added.
NOTE: As per City of Cape Town CCTV Policy, CCTV recordings or images are confidential and may only be given to SAPS detectives, not to the BVRA or any victim of crime.
