THE Johannesburg CBD has become a safe area since the start of the Confederations Cup - thanks to a huge police presence.

Since June 12 more than 400 police officers - including Metro cops - have been deployed across the city and this has proved highly effective in the fight against crime, said police spokesperson Captain John Maluleke.

"We have arrested more than 239 people for various crimes and the city has never been safer."

Maluleke said recent arrests included charges of possession of unlicensed firearms, possession of explosives, carrying dangerous weapons, domestic violence and littering.

"We now have absolute control of the city," he said.

In fact, business people in the CBD wish the Confederation Cup would be be played in the city forever.

Khulani Madida, an informal trader at Noord Taxi Rank, said: "We witnessed people being robbed every day.

"But now the thugs can't do a thing as you see so many the police."