Crime stratergy in Mitchells Plain shows positive results

By Rhodé Marshall
3 July 2007

Gangsters and drug dealers in Mitchells Plain are starting to feel the pressure after the police battle plan against the township’s criminals, starts to take effect.

Residents of the area decided to take matters into their own hands when the drug problem in their neighbourhood, spun out of control. Many felt that authorities were not doing enough to tackle the problem of drugs.

Last week police launched a strategy aimed to tackle the problem of drugs and crime.

“We’ve increased the crime prevention capacity that concentrates only on hitting drug dealers to 35 people. Now that capacity is being increased”, says Director at the Mitchell’s Plain police station Jeremy Veari.

“The flying squad vehicles we now covering more of our access routes more effectively through additional flying squad vehicles”, says Veari.

Within six days following the strategy, positive results were shown during the anti-crime operations in the area.

Records from last Wednesday to yesterday:
· 57 arrests were made for drug related crimes,
· 13 people were arrested for firearm related offences,
· 81 people were taken into custody for other crimes,
· 2 976 people searched on the streets,
· 580 vehicles were searched and 35 roadblocks were held,
· 152 addresses were identified and search warrants were executed,
· 32 homes in search of suspects connected to court cases were visited by detectives.