Crime is not fought in offices with pens, but by getting boots on the ground and in the faces of criminals.
Florida Police officers, assisted by Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), held a high-visibility road block at a notorious crime hotspot along Helpmekaar Road, 4 June. The arterial is a common route linking Fleurhof and Florida to Meadowlands and the rest of Soweto. Staring in the 6am twilight and ending at 2pm, members searched roughly 100 people and over 80 motor vehicles with relative success.
JMPD handed out R4 250 worth of traffic fines, and police arrested three men in connection with marijuana offences. One man was arrested for dealing, and two other suspects, one also carrying R140 worth of illegal cigarettes, were detained for being in possession of almost 60 grams of marijuana each. Arrests were also secured for one suspect wanted for theft, one for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and two for common assault related to domestic violence cases.
The successes at the roadblocks follow an increased presence on the streets of Florida. Patrols conducted in conjunction with community groups have led to the confiscation of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Through strong partnerships, Florida Police are determined to win back confidence, doing so one operation at a time.
