TEN people were arrested in a police raid along the banks of the uMgeni River on Friday. Seven suspected prostitutes were rounded up alongside three vagrants who were found in an encampment with what police believe may be stolen items.
The joint operation saw Metro Police, the Greenwood Park police station as well as the CPF and local councillor, Shaun Ryley, tackle the scourge of prostitution and the crime spike in the area.
Northglen News who accompanied police on the raid, found more than 50 condoms littered across the disused nature trail path that runs the length of Riverside Road and extends as far as the Connaught Bridge.
The operation had barely begun when Metro Police arrested two prostitutes who told police they were waiting to meet a client.
“They have a fixed client base and they said they came to meet him at midday on Riverside Road. Besides prostitution, there has also been a spike in criminal activity. We believe the vagrants are involved in the crime and selling drugs,” said Capt Fanele Nxumalo, from the Greenwood Park SAPS.
“This forms part of the festive operation by the station to patrol areas known for criminal activity.”
Police also found a settlement, complete with three tents, pots, pans as well as number clothing items, mostly female.
Brain Daish, of the Greenwood Park CPF, said he received a number of complaints from residents about the prostitution and vagrants at a recent CPF meeting.
“Not every vagrant is a criminal, but there is an element of criminality that exists. We need the commitment from other municipal entities like Ezemvelo, the parks department and others to undertake sustained operations to resolve this problem,” he said.
“It’s important to have this sort of operation on an ongoing basis. We’ve had three this year alone, which has yielded results, but more needs to be done. I’d like to thank Metro Police and the Greenwood Park police station for their assistance,” he said.
Shaun Ryley, Durban North ward councillor, concurred with Daish saying more raids were needed.
“No one is taking responsibility for the issue and the buck is continually being passed. The city needs to come on board and provide better shelters for vagrants,” Ryley said.
