“Increasing CCTV and Strengthening Mental Illness Management”… Nowon-gu Announces ‘Comprehensive Safety Measures’

Preventing Indiscriminate Crimes and Reducing Daily Life Security Gaps
District Mayor Oh Seung-rok: "Full Effort to Ensure Public Safety"

Seoul Nowon-gu has decided to increase security personnel to enhance safety on trails and walking paths. (Photo by Nowon-gu Office)

Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced on the 20th that it has established a comprehensive plan called "Everyday Life Safety City Nowon," which includes strengthening safety on trails and walking paths, enhancing management of individuals with mental illnesses, creating a safe environment for crime-vulnerable groups, reinforcing public-private-police collaboration systems, and preemptively building a crime safety network through citizen participation.

According to the district, this plan is a broad comprehensive strategy covering all aspects of residents' daily lives, centered on preventing abnormal motive (indiscriminate) crimes and reducing security gaps in everyday life, including the "Nowon-gu Four Major Safety Measures" established last August.

To strengthen safety on trails and walking paths, Nowon-gu will expand its security personnel. The existing "Trail and Mountain Path Watch Group," composed of 38 members, will be increased to 50 members to conduct facility inspections, prevent forest fires, and engage in crime prevention activities to ensure the safety of hikers.

Additionally, the "Nowon Safety Patrol Team" will be deployed for continuous patrol and supervision of trails, walking paths, and neighborhood parks. The district plans to enhance on-site responsiveness by assigning 22 patrol members, all of whom have completed security training and are aged between 20 and under 60.

Moreover, autonomous crime prevention squads linked with the police will patrol more than three times a week on average, and campaigns to prevent abnormal motive crimes will also be conducted.

The most notable aspect of this comprehensive plan is the management of individuals with mental illnesses to prevent abnormal motive crimes, which was the starting point for establishing the safety measures. Individuals with mental illnesses are identified and classified by the local community centers according to severity for management.

Low-risk groups receive emotional support services from the community centers to prevent deterioration into high-risk groups, while high-risk groups, such as those with severe mental illnesses, are connected to mental health welfare centers, registered as case management subjects, and receive counseling and medication monitoring by specialized personnel.

Furthermore, to respond swiftly to various crisis situations such as violence by individuals with mental illnesses, a community crisis response system involving police stations and mental health medical institutions will be established.

To create a safe environment for crime-vulnerable groups, the district plans to increase closed-circuit television (CCTV) installations and strengthen crime prevention design. New and supplementary installations will include 48 security cameras and 70 fixed auxiliary cameras, and 124 outdated devices will be replaced. In crowded areas around Nowon Station, 16 intelligent CCTVs capable of real-time monitoring and video analysis will be installed for immediate response.

To enhance crime prevention design, joint investigations will be conducted with Crime Prevention Officers (CPO). Crime-vulnerable areas within general residential zones will be selected, and customized environmental improvements will be made for each target area by reinforcing various lighting, including solar markers that distinguish lanes and sidewalks even at night.

In addition, the district will focus on community-based safety management by lending self-defense items such as sprays, alarms, and telescopic batons to women and other safety-vulnerable groups, and promoting safety education on everyday self-defense techniques.

Meanwhile, on the 25th, the district plans to hold the "Nowon-gu Public Safety Council," composed of 18 members including the district mayor, Nowon Police Chief, Nowon Fire Chief, and school officials, to discuss activities for crime prevention and various support measures.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, "Violent crimes are becoming increasingly bold and meticulous, occurring indiscriminately regardless of target or location. We will do our utmost to ensure everyday safety so that residents can live with peace of mind."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.