The City of Cape Town wants residents to police themselves in a bid to improve security. Yesterday the city council and the Western Cape government announced that they will distribute 40 "safety kiosks" throughout the city over the next six months in an attempt to combat crime.The kiosks, mounted on trailers, will each be staffed by two people and they are intended to serve as law enforcement's "eyes and ears".Mayor Patricia de Lille said the first of the kiosks would be deployed as roaming units to Hanover Park, Manenberg, Grassy Park, Delft, Clarke Estate, Wesbank, Mitchells Plain and Tafelsig.The city also announced that 600 people from these communities would be employed, under the Extended Public Works Programme, to staff the kiosks after undergoing training.Residents would be able to go to the kiosks to get copies of documents certified, report crimes or give tip-offs about crimes, after which police would be notified.The kiosks will also act as a place where crime victims can seek refuge while waiting for the police. In high crime areas, the kiosks will be supported by armed response officers.All incidents reported at the kiosks will be documented, providing the province's police ombudsman, Vusi Pikoli, with information to follow up on cases if the police fail to act.A total of R7-million has been budgeted: R2.5-million from the provincial community safety department and R4.5-million from the city council.Premier Helen Zille, who was at yesterday's event, said the partnership would see police work closely with the people staffing the kiosks.Social Justice Coalition secretary Phumeza Mlungwana welcomed the city's strategy, saying communities needed all the resources they could get."The Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry showed how inaccessible the police can be in other parts [of the township]," she said.De Lille said they would monitor how positively the initiative was received in communities over six months.If deemed successful, the city would invest more money in the kiosks...