Clampdown on roadblock warnings
When it comes to warning people about roadblocks in Durban, sharing is not caring, says Terence Pillay. You can be charged with defeating the ends of justice.
Listen to Terence on this controversial topic below, or read the article under the podcast:
As the festive season approaches, people are winding down with parties and gatherings that often involve drinking alcohol. And while the majority are responsible and don’t drive while under the influence of alcohol, there are still some who flout the laws and get behind the wheel of their car drunk.
The Metro Police say that these are the people they are targeting in their on-going roadblocks around Durban. Acting Head of Metro Police, Steve Middleton, launched a campaign earlier this year to rid our roads of drunk drivers. Middleton and his team go out every weekend setting up roadblocks to curb the scourge. And with a number of arrests every week, Middleton says they are definitely winning the war.
But the Metro Police have discovered a possible leak in their department with allegations emerging that one of their own is passing on information of the location of these roadblocks to certain members of the public. This information, in turn, makes its way on to social media groups and is passed on in an effort to get people to avoid these routes home after a night out.
Read: Durban Metro Police warns against roadblock alerts
And therein lies the problem. Warning your friends of the location of roadblocks, says Superintendent Parboo Sewpersadh of the Metro Police, is illegal and constitutes defeating the ends of justice. If caught, and their investigation finds you to be the originator of the post, you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Do you share information on roadblocks with your friends and family? Is it to prevent them being caught driving under the influence of alcohol or to warn them not to drink if they’re going to drive?
You can email Terence Pillay at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter: @terencepillay1.