City enforcement agencies hit 219 arrests in a week
12 April 2021
Drug-related crimes, driving under the influence and reckless and negligent driving continue to feature prominently.
The City’s enforcement agencies made 219 arrests in the past week.
Officers also issued 85 392 fines for various transgressions.
‘Drug-related arrests and arrests for drunk driving and reckless and negligent driving continue to feature prominently in the work that our enforcement agencies do on a weekly basis. Drunk and reckless and negligent driving accounted for 80 percent of all arrests by traffic officers in the past week. Similarly, 60 percent of the arrests by our LEAP officers were related to drugs. Substance abuse and the anti-social behaviour that flows from it cannot be addressed through enforcement alone. Far too often, enforcement is touted as the solution, which places immense pressure on our resources. The reality is that we need a stronger social fabric and greater individual accountability,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
TRAFFIC SERVICES
Cape Town Traffic Services stopped 10 089 vehicles in integrated roadblocks, vehicle check points and speed control operations in the week of 5 April 2021 to 11 April 2021.
The highest speeds recorded were:
171 km/h on R27 Melkbosstrand (70 km/h zone)
140 km/h on Jakes Gerwel before Viking way (60 km/h zone)
137 km/h FW De Klerk and Marine Drive (80 km/h zone)
Officers made 71 arrests, of which 80 percent were for driving under the influence of alcohol (33) and reckless & negligent driving (24).
They also impounded 212 vehicles, 121 cellphones, executed 1 046 warrants of arrest and issued 76 509 fines for various transgressions in terms of the National Road Traffic Act.
In addition, a total of 328 fines were issued in terms of the Disaster Management Act, for offences ranging from failure to adhere to the curfew to failing to wear a mask in public.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
The Law Enforcement Department made 76 arrests and issued 4 802 notices for various transgressions in terms of the City’s by-laws.
The LEAP programme made 68 arrests, 41 of which were drug-related, 12 for possession of a dangerous weapon, four for possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, three for dealing in liquor without a licence, three in terms of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act, three for outstanding warrants, as well as arrests for domestic violence and malicious damage to property.
METRO POLICE
Officers made 72 arrests and issued 4 081 fines. There were 34 arrests for drug-related crimes, while 16 persons were arrested for contact-related crimes, and eight were arrested for outstanding warrants.
Four of the drug-related arrests happened on Sunday, 11 April 2021.
In the CBD, Metro Police Officers attached to the Camera Response Unit arrested a suspect for the possession of drugs at the station deck. The 50-year-old was monitored via Metro Police CCTV surveillance cameras, and was found with three bankies of tik and a bankie of dagga in his possession.
In Belhar, during a vehicle checkpoint, officers requested to search a vehicle, and found seven plastic bags of dagga in a backpack. A 24-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of drugs.
In Ravensmead, officers sought permission to search a house in Ravensmead after receiving a tip-off from the public. They found magic mushrooms and dagga on the premises, and arrested a 28-year-old suspect.
Later in the day, during a vehicle checkpoint in Tableview, officers arrested a motorist for possession of drugs after he was found with 11 small bags of crushed mandrax and two small bags of cocaine.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
