TEDxJohannesburg: The way we respond to crime needs to change

November 2016 on Namola

November 2016 on Namola

[Below is an excerpt from the conclusion along with the video of the talk]

One day everyone will have a smartphone and all smartphones sold in South Africa will have a panic button pre-installed onto them. This will give all South Africans access to an Uber for Police, as well as an Uber for ambulance and fire services at a touch of a button — like you’re calling for Uber black or Uber X.

Instead of having multiple law enforcement agencies like the SAPS, Metro Police, and the various Traffic services with similar overlapping roles but no coordination; mobile software will break down the barriers and silo’s. People with armed response will be able to add their contracts to their app.

This will give citizens much faster responses. When you press the button, it doesn’t matter who it is as long as a good guy with a gun is coming to help you.

Through its widespread use Namola will become a source of reliable, accurate and unaltered crime and crime fighting statistics. This will enhance our ability to allocate resources effectively, ensure accountability and predict crime and criminal activity.

With no human involvement the system will start automatically dispatching and allocating police cars, fire trucks and ambulances to key areas where incidents are likely to occur based statistical predications.

We will become smarter and more efficient.

Moving away from smartphones, all public buildings, schools, banks and ATM’s will integrate with the software. When an ATM or bank is getting robbed or a school is facing a crisis, police and ambulances will automatically be dispatched to provide much needed assistance.

Criminals will become deterred and more cautious because their perceived and real chances of being caught will improve.

South Africa will become safer.

Families will be able to play outside knowing that if they need the police, or fast and reliable support, they will just be able to say a few words — “Hey Siri, call the police” — and help will be on the way.