Jozi folk told 'roadblocks good for you'

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng - Police have asked road-users in the City of Gold to bear with roadblocks "in the cause of fighting crime".

A Johannesburg metro police department spokesperson said: "We appeal to drivers and our vast communities to bear with us but also support us as we intensify our crime-fighting activities through traffic law enforcement."

He said the JMPD did more than just enforce traffic regulations - the force also fought crime: "Our interventions on the road are designed to respond to these two imperatives."

FIGHTING CRIME

Through its enforcement activities on the roads, he added, the metro police enhanced police visibility - a proven crime-prevention method. Their presence also contributed to the modification of driving behaviour and preventing crashes and deaths on the roads.

The spokesman added: "Recent statistics reveal that thousands of vehicles are stolen in our city, often through gruesome hijackings involving illegal firearms."

Roadblock stop-and-search operations, he insisted, had assisted in determining driver and vehicle legality and fitness, as well as finding stolen vehicles, arresting wanted criminals and confiscating illegal firearms.