High-tech security for 2010
4 April 2007
The South African Police Service has been allocated R600-million on top of its annual budget to prepare for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, mostly to purchase equipment ranging from light aircraft to retractable fencing.
Deputy police commissioner Andre Pruis told The Star last week that other equipment needed included mobile command centres, water cannons, crime scene trailers, new armour for vehicles and new tools for bomb squads.
According to The Star, the police intend to buy four Pilatus PC-12 light aircraft to patrol the skies above World Cup venues. The planes will be equipped with video cameras that send live footage to officers on the ground.
Each stadium will have one or two mobile police centres featuring high-tech monitoring equipment, enabling them to perform functions such as running identify checks.
Pruis, who was involved in security planning for the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 2003 Cricket World Cup, stressed that all equipment purchased would continue to be used after the World Cup.
South Africa will deploy 30 000 dedicated police officers in host cities during the event, while Pruis is hoping for an extra 50 000 reservists to be recruited by 2010 to supplement the country's current reserve force of 45 000.
In addition, every host city will have a dedicated 2010 police station with separate holding cells, a courtroom for speedy judgments and a Home Affairs office for possible deportations.
"With such an event you import the world's problems into your country," Pruis told The Star. "But I am very positive and feel good about the operational plans and the commanders [who manage the police units]."
International police officers from every country playing in the event will also be present, wearing their own uniforms, to assist the public and keep an eye out for trouble.
Pruis added that he would meet with Interpol later this year to gain access to databases of dangerous and unwanted visitors, including terrorists, organised criminals and soccer hooligans.
"We will tell them that they won't be allowed into South Africa," Pruis told The Star.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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