Hendri Prinsloo is a man driven by his inquisitive nature, his love of gathering information, and his desire to provide ratepayers with the best service possible. He is the architect behind the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department’s (JMPD) data and information analysis system (DIAS), a real-time internal software that allows officers to access and analyse critical information, including hotspots for crime, land invasion, and service delivery protests.
DIAS generates instantaneous reports that are used to make decisions about the deployment of officers and manage the department’s operations effectively.
Prinsloo’s love for gathering and analysing information, coupled with his passion for serving the community, inspired him to develop DIAS a little more than a decade ago.
“I was experimenting with computer functions, which led to the creation of the system. It was inspired by my passion for acquiring and evaluating information for the benefit of the department and the community at large,” he explains.
What is most striking about Prinsloo’s story is how he came to develop DIAS from nothing. With no prior programming or coding knowledge, he was undaunted and set out to create a system that could benefit the department and the residents of Johannesburg.
Through extensive research and a self-taught approach, the JMPD Superintendent became a coding genius, fostering a system that is now benchmarked to international standards.
DIAS is a hands-on tool for management, providing a real-time visual of the deployment of officers and activities conducted by the JMPD. The dashboard reflects all the regions in the City, including specialised units and by-law management units on the ground.
It also details arrests by crime type and periods, recovered items, fatal accidents, and causes. Even events happening in the Johannesburg Inner City and footage from the Integrated Intelligence Operations Centre (IIOC) are recorded on DIAS.
DIAS also keeps track of the number of JMPD officers on annual leave, sick leave, or maternity leave, as well as the call logging of traffic and other related complaints, the distribution of ward profiles across Johannesburg, as well as weekly, monthly, and quarterly presentations for various operational duties.
Prinsloo speaks of the system passionately, but he does not like to boast, for everything he does is motivated by his desire to serve the public.
His background in the army and the erstwhile Roodepoort Traffic Department equipped him with the skills to develop DIAS, and he hopes to see the system used to its fullest.
“I love creating something from nothing, the outcome makes me happy.”
It is clear from speaking with Prinsloo that he is a humble man who is driven by his desire to provide ratepayers with the best service possible. However, when he speaks about DIAS, his passion is evident. He nurtured the project from its inception, starting with creating a website and intranet for the department to share internal information.
“It all started in 2010 with some tinkering on an old Apple Mac desktop, where I learnt how to build a website and put up an intranet for the JMPD. It served as a platform for internal information sharing across the department.”
The system found its footing in 2015 after Prinsloo created it, and Dion Ndlovu was instrumental in obtaining management and departmental backing for the system.
Prinsloo is a testament to the power of inquisitiveness, determination, and a self-taught approach to learning. He is proof that with dedication and a desire to create something of value, anything is possible. The JMPD is lucky to have someone like Prinsloo at the helm of its police department, dedicated to providing the best service possible to ratepayers and the community alike.
Written by Brümilda Swartbooi
28/04/2023