Grassy Park Police Station is facing a civil lawsuit after the wrong house was searched during a search and seizure operation earlier this month.
Grassy Park Community Policing Forum (CPF) chair Melvin Jonkers says when house numbers are not clearly displayed it has a serious impact on emergency services.
“It has happened recently that a particular house was incorrectly searched and personal items seized from the incorrect property. This was a direct result of the house number, for which a search warrant was obtained, was omitted and the house next door incorrectly searched.
“The fact that the incorrect house was searched during an operation could have serious repercussions.”
According to Jonkers, police received a tip off two weeks ago that an Egyptian national was manufacturing fake honey at a premises in fifth avenue.
“However, it is now believed that the police went into the wrong house at first. The owner of the property that was searched incorrectly is now suing and putting in a civil claim against the police for wrongfully searching and seizing. This could have been prevented if the properties were numbered properly.”
According to the Provincial Gazette 6469 (of Friday 28 September 2007) Section 20 Sub Sections 1 a and b, the City may by written notice allot a number to any premises in a public road and direct the owner to display the number or direct any owner to replace or repair any digits which have become illegible, obliterated or defaced.
“The correct numbering of the respective properties and premises will greatly assist the law enforcement agencies with locating the premises from which a complaint was received in good time and assist the respective complainants with the emergency or need,” adds Jonkers.
The CPF is urging homeowners to ensure that their house numbers are clearly visible so that emergency services such as police and paramedics can easily find the location.
“The Grassy Park police precinct area is currently experiencing a huge challenge with regard to the fact that houses in the greater precinct area are not numbered. This is posing a serious threat to policing in our precinct,” says Jonkers.
“In the past there have been many complaints received with regards to the fact that the police either did not attend to or drove past a house where a complaint was received.
“This was as a result of the fact that the particular premises from where the complaint was received was not properly marked or a number of the premises were not clearly displayed. This has a direct consequence to the police’s response time when attending to complaints.”
