Why you shouldn’t expose the suspects on social media
Residents are being warned by police to refrain from posting or sharing a photo of wanted suspects as this could jeopardise the case...
A suspect is more likely to walk free from a criminal case if his or her identity has been publicised on social media platforms, law enforcement warned.
Residents are being warned by police to refrain from posting or sharing photos of wanted suspects as this could jeopardise the case, especially if the suspect’s face is exposed.
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This also applies to vehicle registration numbers as this may lead to cases of mistaken identity. Honeydew Police spokesperson, Captain Balan Muthan, criticised the act, branding it as a major problem. “Social media is becoming a major problem in criminal cases. People should refrain from posting these pictures unless they have been given authorisation by the police and a case has been opened,” he explained, adding that the police also require special authorisation to publish the identities of suspects.
Although social media plays a pivotal role in creating awareness about crime, during a Sector 2 Honeydew CPF meeting, members were cautioned about this activity and advised to rather blur the faces of the subjects and vehicle registration numbers.
A Joburg-based attorney, Vukani Mthembu, also weighed in on the matter. He indicated that social media is not a reliable source and said the eventual court case might fail if the information posted has no credibility. He stressed the importance of following the identity parade procedures as conducted by a senior police officer in line with the country’s criminal procedures.
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