Swakop beefs up beach patrols after murder

SWAKOPMUND will become a safe place again says the town’s Mayor, Rosina //Hoabes.

Less than two weeks after the cold blooded murder of Alexandra Mooren on the beach, four Police reservists and one Police officer have started patrolling the beach area on a 24-hour basis. This is one of the new measures “to fight the demon of crime in our society,” announced the Mayor at a media conference on Wednesday.The murder of the German national who was a resident of Swakopmund “has left the town in tears and brought the community closer together”, said the Mayor.With businesses already reporting cancellations from international and local tourists because of the attack, the office of the Mayor, the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) and the Namibian Police came together to find solutions to the rising crime.The reservists started patrolling the beach area from the Swakop River mouth to the skateboard ramp just north of the Mole beach from yesterday.Other measures announced by the Mayor include the installation of surveillance cameras at the most vulnerable places in town, putting in place anti-loitering by-laws and the production of an information leaflet.Kurt Bellwinkel of the NCCI has also donated two bicycles for the Police patrols.The leaflet, that provides tips to tourists, visitors and residents on safety, has been completed.It will be distributed to shops, restaurants, hotels and other accommodation facilities.The leaflet tells people when and where to walk, what to carry with them and what to do with valuables.It also provides emergency numbers.Demasius said the installation of surveillance cameras would take more time as an investigation would first have to be launched to ensure money would be spend wisely.This is one of the new measures “to fight the demon of crime in our society,” announced the Mayor at a media conference on Wednesday. The murder of the German national who was a resident of Swakopmund “has left the town in tears and brought the community closer together”, said the Mayor.With businesses already reporting cancellations from international and local tourists because of the attack, the office of the Mayor, the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) and the Namibian Police came together to find solutions to the rising crime.The reservists started patrolling the beach area from the Swakop River mouth to the skateboard ramp just north of the Mole beach from yesterday.Other measures announced by the Mayor include the installation of surveillance cameras at the most vulnerable places in town, putting in place anti-loitering by-laws and the production of an information leaflet.Kurt Bellwinkel of the NCCI has also donated two bicycles for the Police patrols.The leaflet, that provides tips to tourists, visitors and residents on safety, has been completed.It will be distributed to shops, restaurants, hotels and other accommodation facilities.The leaflet tells people when and where to walk, what to carry with them and what to do with valuables.It also provides emergency numbers.Demasius said the installation of surveillance cameras would take more time as an investigation would first have to be launched to ensure money would be spend wisely.