Visiting the Roodepoort Licensing Station on Westlake Avenue has long been a thorn in the side of Roodepoort residents.
With scamming, muggings, robberies and even the odd murder the order of the day, residents long have pleaded especially with Metro Police, that something constructive be done. Finally Florida CPF has taken the lead and three weeks ago requested a meeting with a number of role players to attempt to deal with these problems.
The meeting was attended by representatives from Florida CPF, Florida Police, Metro Police, Roodepoort Licensing Centre, the security company that currently guards the licensing centre as well as officials from the Metro Police Licensing Head Office.
A number of challenges were identified and allocated to specific task team members to try and resolve the issues.
“We are very pleased to report that progress has been made and some steps are being carried out,” Florida CPF chairperson Caleb Finn told the Record.
These include the following:
• Metro Police assisting with visibility at the licensing centre to supplement the manpower shortages Florida Police currently has
• Metro Police officers have made a number of arrests since being placed at the licensing centre
• Florida Police, Metro Police, community patrollers and security companies also held a joint operation a few weeks back where all the persons loitering outside the licensing centre and claiming to “speed up the process” were taken to Florida Police Station to be profiled by Crime Intelligence. This included taking their finger prints and pictures
• Additional signage is in the process of being purchased to make it clearer to everyone visiting the licensing centre that free and safe parking is available within the fenced area
• JRA was present at the second task-team meeting and they will be extending the pavement outside the licensing centre to stop people from parking outside the fence. No-parking signs and road markings will be provided
• Councillor Dave Dewes also attended the second task-team meeting and he will assist in following up on some other options that could be of assistance
“Since the deployment of additional Metro Police members at the licensing centre we have seen a significant decrease in robbery cases.
“We must stress, however, that the deployment of Metro Police members is only part of a short-term plan. We need the community to help us out by ensuring they park inside the palisade fence. Please do not deal with anyone outside the fence or licensing building. Go inside should you have queries,” said Finn.
Finn also once again emphasised that there are no ways to speed up processes at the licensing station.
“This is a South African sickness and we need to change our ways. Money does not make everything go quicker! Please join the queue and wait your turn. You need to help us get rid of these guys by not giving them money,” he said.
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