In light of the many complaints about the Linden police by community members, a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) made a surprise oversite visit at the station.
The Northcliff Melville Times was invited to the visit which took place on 7 March following various complaints about the police station being involved in drug peddling in their policing area, specifically Winsor East.
Upon arrival, the Linden Police Station’s Community Service Centre (CSC) had only one officer who was in casual clothes, presumably a detective, assisting members of the public.
The station commander as well many other officers in managerial positions were out on their compulsory twice-a-year shooting training.
Michelle Clarke, DA spokesperson on Community Safety and GPL member, explained that the CSC should have a law graduate who assists with domestic violence and rape cases which Linden did not have.
This was confirmed by branch commander, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Raath whom Clarke had to speak to in the station commander’s absence.
When asked about what the Linden police have been doing about the area’s drug problem, he explained that they have drug operations on a daily basis which yield approximately two to three arrests each day.
Raath explained that users are mostly arrested and not dealers. He said that arresting dealers is more complicated and that they hand over cases in which drug dealers are involved, to specialised drug units as well as the Hawks.
With regard to officers at the station being involved in sweeping drug dealing and drug-related crime under the rug, he said he can assure no cases have been opened against any Linden police officers around the matter.
“There will always be rumours. Rumours are just rumours,” he told Clarke.
Clarke responded by saying, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
He then said police require credible information and evidence for their claims of police drug involvement and corruption. He added that all information reported to police will be treated as confidential.
Details: Crime stop 10111, Linden Police Station 011 888 9299.
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