The Grassy Park Policing Forum (CPF) is calling on residents to stop vandalising state property after the tyre of a police vehicle was slashed in Ottery on Sunday 7 April.
According to Grassy Park police spokesperson Capt Wynita Kleinsmith, officers were responding to a complaint when the incident occurred.
“On Sunday, our officers were attending to a complaint and when they came out to their vehicle, they found the tyre slashed.”
Kleinsmith added that it was a general occurrence in the community, especially when officers were carrying out an arrest.
“There is damage to our vehicles when people stone them and it has an influence and impact on complaints that [are] being attended to,” she said. “But if we don’t have vehicles, then it is a problem.”
Last year, more vehicles were damaged during Guy Fawkes.
“Our vehicle had paint thrown at it, which is still on the car and after Guy Fawkes our vehicle was stoned,” said Kleinsmith.
She added that law enforcement vehicles were also targets in the Ottery and Parkwood areas, which are the vandalism hotspots.
“If the vehicle has to go in for repairs, it takes time for it to be fixed and then we are without it.”
Meanwhile, CPF deputy chair Nicole Jacobus said the vandalising of police vehicles is derailing officers from carrying out their work.
“The Grassy Park CPF noted that the tyres of a police vehicle were flattened while attending to a complaint in Ottery,” she said.
“Our police need to be ready to respond to calls and the flattening of police vehicle tyres is tantamount to obstructing police in doing their duty.”
Jacobus urged community leaders to step in and assist.
“Our teachers and church leaders are urged to call on our people to refrain from such destructive behaviour.
“We are all concerned about the high level of crime and our community leaders are requested to speak about this in their various institutions.”
Jacobus asked for witnesses to come forward with any information regarding the incident.
“We call on our community to say something and to report any vandalism. Damaging a police vehicle is an attack on the State.”
To report the vandalising of police vehicles email the Grassy Park CPF at Grassyparkcpf@gmail.com or call 107 from a landline and 021 480 7700 from a cellphone.
