PORT ELIZABETH - PE POLICE MAKE APPEAL & ISSUE STERN WARNING TO GUY FAWKES REVELLERS

Last night, 2 November 2016 police were inundated with complaints of burning tyres and damage to infrastructure in the Bethelsdorp area. An appeal is made to parents to take control of their children who are engaging in this dangerous and illegal activity.

There will be high police concentration in the Northern areas this weekend focussing on the Guy Fawkes celebrations. The Criminal Matters Amendment Act 18 of 2015 which came into operation on 1 June 2016 will form an integral part of the policing strategies employed in the Northern areas when Guy Fawkes is celebrated this year.

In terms of this legislation any person who unlawfully and intentionally damages essential infrastructure, is guilty of an offence. This will impact severely on those individuals setting tyres alight on the road surface as part of their ‘Guy Fawkes’ celebrations. An accused arrested for this offence may only be released on bail by a competent court.

Police are warning revellers to be responsible and to act within the confines of the law. No sympathy will be given to any person found to be disregarding the provisions of the mentioned Act. They will be arrested and detained.  The Cluster Commander for Mount Road Cluster sends out a stern warning to the community that the police will not tolerate such actions especially when service delivery is compromised by attending to complaints of this nature.’

The police could be attending to more serious matters instead of having to douse and remove tyres from the road. We will not hesitate to arrest anyone who is in violation of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act’, said General Rabie.

VIA - saps.gov.za