Police swoop on Bluff in successful festive season blitz
THE directives of the police national festive season strategy were successfully met by Brighton Beach SAP over the 2013/14 festive season.
According to Brighton Beach SAP communications officer, Captain Louise Le Roux, the focus areas set out were achieved through fruitful partnership initiatives. “SAP operational, detective services and support services staff, established specialised SAP task teams to address business and house robberies, Metro Police, RTI, security companies, Community Orientated Policing (COP) and the Community Crime Prevention Unit (CCPU) worked together to create a safer environment for locals and visitors to the Brighton Beach policing area,” said Cpt Le Roux.
Operations included 17 roadblocks, 112 vehicles checked at check points, 806 stop and searches, 15 suspect raids, blue light patrols, 612 suspicious persons searched and 1,145 vehicles searched.
In terms of statistics, vehicle-related crimes were the most marked decrease in comparison to the 2012/2013 period and hijackings were down 85%. “Considering the influx of visitors to our shopping malls and beaches, this was a great achievement.”
Other achievements over the period include:
* 156 people charged for alcohol-related offences, including drinking in public and dealing illegally in liquor. Of the 156, 36 were charged with drinking and driving.
* 15 illegal liquor outlets closed down with 279,235ml of alcohol confiscated.
* 173 people charged for drug-related offences, with 556 grams of dagga, 33 dagga plants, 525 heroin straws, one gram of cocaine, two grams of rock cocaine and one mandrax tablet confiscated.
* 53 people charged for road traffic offences, ranging from reckless and/or negligent driving, parking violations and unworthy aspects of vehicles. Cpt Le Roux noted a disturbing trend of people not having a valid driver’s license in their possession while driving and vehicles not equipped with fire extinguishers and warning triangles.
* 81 dangerous weapons seized, including knives, knobkieries, pangas and firearms used in the commission of crimes.
* 26 people arrested for crimes, such as house and business robberies. This was thanks to the establishment of task teams to address trio crimes.
“As expected, assault, assault with grievous bodily harm and domestic violence-related crimes showed an increase, of which, alcohol played a significant role. These crimes are difficult to police as they predominantly occur behind closed doors within the home, business environment (in the case of employer/employee crimes) and places of entertainment.”
Brighton Beach SAP will manage policing activities at local beaches during the 2014/2015 festive season, including access control measures and strategic placement of stake holders to prevent crimes being committed by locals and visitors to the beaches.
“Brighton Beach SAP station commander Colonel Carel Grobler and his management team thank all members and all role-players who contributed towards the successes achieved during the festive season. Internal and external partnerships have proven that together we can achieve more to create a safe community for locals and visitors to our policing area,” said Cpt Le Roux.
– erinh@dbn.caxton.co.za
