Safeguarding Hilton: Empowering Community Safety with Central Communication

Safety is our priority

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What is Hilton 911?

Conceived by the numerous local security organisations, Hilton 911 is a community-driven initiative to create a physical central communication point in order to proactively and reactively ensure the safety of all residents. The vision is to have a physical location, run by united effort, to link callers to appropriate emergency resources, and deploy them where necessary.

While Hilton has numerous resources which have dramatically improved Hilton’s security situation they are not centrally coordinated. Many rely heavily on the goodwill of individuals who love Hilton and are run by volunteers and/or depend on service subscriptions, so it may be difficult to know where to turn first in a time of need. Our goal is to create the safest community environment in South Africa.

It is not a replacement for any security company or the SAPS whose legal mandate stands

What we offer

A first point of contact for emergencies of any nature
24/7 control room to monitor Hilton’s security cameras and security communications networks
Coordination and maintenance of CIB patrols and HRRG
The ability to gather information from residents’ reports and camera surveillance to fight crimes and archive data
A point of reference for co-ordinating adequate and intelligent responses to large-scale incidents, from rioting to N3 disruptions
A robust institution with a corporate memory and accountability

Currently

CIB Patrollers: 200 volunteers “Community in Blue’ – an organisation consisting of approx. 200 volunteers who patrol Hilton daily in order to deter criminal activity. Functions under the direction of SAPS.
CIB Controllers: 10 volunteers
Street Hawks: 20% of Hilton Residents contribute
HRRG: Run by one person. “Hilton Rapid Response’ is run by a volunteer who coordinates the response of SAPS and private security companies to an incident.
WTSU: only 40% of Winterskloof Residents contribute to the Winterskloof Tactical Surveillance Unit who provide a broad spectrum of security-related services.
UCSI: Manages Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras. (SNIPR)
14 x Trail Cameras: maintained & monitored by 2 volunteers
There is no central command & control for emergencies in Hilton that is monitored 24/7
Most security cameras are not monitored 24/7

If Hilton 911 is not established?

Responses to major and minor incidents continue to be siloed according to differing responses of the various groups, with no accountability or unity of purpose.
Cameras, which have been used very effectively to target crime in the area to date, will be fewer in number.
Proactive crime responses will be limited, the safety of volunteers will be jeopardised without a means to call for assistance, and the long-term sustainability of the HRRG will be at risk.
The pressure to arrange extensive private security and collect financial contributions for volunteer-based security initiatives will increase, while contributions to the WTSU and Street Hawks will decrease.
Greater reliance on private security companies

NO. The South African Police Service is still the legal entity responsible for ensuring Hilton’s safety and for the prosecuting of criminals operating in the Hilton area. This precinct will be increased to include Sweetwaters, which puts pressure on Hilton SAPS resources and manpower. Hilton 911 aims to work closely with the SAPS and to provide aid and information by co-ordinating reports from Hilton’s various information channels, and to establish the region’s reputation as a difficult target for petty crime.

NO. Hilton 911 is not a security company, nor will it include an armed response. Hilton 911 will rather rely on the commitment of private security companies to work together with the HRRG.Hilton 911 will also act as a coordination centre to help expatiate the response of private security companies to an incident

NO, this cost will be covered by your UIP contribution.

Help us to create the safest community environment in South Africa.

Consent to the formation of a UIP

For enquiries or to become a volunteer please email enquiries@hilton911.co.za