DURBAN North SAPS raided and dismantled a number of vagrant settlements along Durban North and Virginia beachfront this morning. Accused of public disorder, strewing rubbish and theft, vagrants occupying the mangroves near the Virginia Airport have become a nuisance for residents and police who want them removed.
The crime prevention unit, tactical response unit and officers from the station this morning paid a surprise visit to the settlements at 6am to dismantle the structures that have been built deep in the thicket of the mangroves. Though there were no arrests, police were able to identify a number of new settlements which were demolished and destroyed.
The vagrants have cut through portions of the fence bordering the mangroves and the path leading into the bush is strewn with used condoms, cardboard boxes and hundreds of bottles of Paarl Perle wine.
“The raid is part of an ongoing initiative to root out vagrants from the area and is the second one this year,” explained Lt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the Durban North SAPS.
“We believe there is a criminal element using the vagrants in the area as a legitimate cloak. Vagrancy is not a crime but we are standing by residents who have raised legitimate concerns over their safety. We hoped to profile vagrants living in the area to see if any of them have any warrants for their arrest.”
Last week Metro police arrested 45 vagrants in ‘Whoonga Park’ just outside the city, nine of whom were wanted by the police for various crimes.
