DURBAN North SAPS spokesperson, Captain Raymond Deokaran, has urged the north Durban community not to take the law into their own hands.

This comes after two incidents of vigilantism were allegedly carried out by members of the community.

According to Deokaran, in one of the incidents, a local resident rammed her vehicle into another vehicle after she spotted the man allegedly taking photos of her property.

“The resident spotted the man allegedly taking photos of her property. The resident then confronted the man, and as he drove off, she chased after him and struck his vehicle. A case has now been registered by both parties at the station. As the SAPS, we strongly condemn any form of vigilantism, and the warning is that those involved in such acts will be prosecuted under the law,” he said.

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Deokaran added that vigilantism is never a justifiable act of punishment for anyone.

“We urge residents to work with and contact the police to report all criminal behaviour,” he said.

Chairperson of the Durban North/uMhlanga Community Policing Forum (CPF), Haden Searles, echoed Deokaran’s sentiments.

“Taking the law into your own hands is not a solution. If you take the law into your own hands, you run the risk of being criminally charged. Our message is in line with the criminal procedural act, and we urge residents to act within the confines of the law. If you would like to proactively fight crime, why not join the CPF? We work with the police and would be better placed to offer advice than resorting to vigilantism,” Searles said.