CPF addresses car guard misunderstanding regarding proposed regulations
Following a car guard's response to the Crime Policing Forum's (CPF) proposed regulation of car guards the CPF of Springs has expressed the following views.
Read: Car guard outraged at CPF’s regulation proposal
“It is not our intention to manage or control car guards on a day to day basis,” says CPF Springs chairman Mike du Toit.
Also read:Â Car guards could face new regulation measures
“We want a record of who car guards are and where they operate from.”
Mike says chapter seven of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department’s (EMPD) by-laws makes provision for this proposal.
“Paragraph 131.1 sates the following:” says Mike.
“No person may act, operate as, or falsely hold him or herself out to be a parking attendant on any public road or in any public place of the council without the written permission of the council.”
Mike adds that paragraph 141.2 states no parking attendant may refuse to subject him or herself to a security check as prescribed by the Security Officers Act no.53 of 1985.
“The concern is that none of these by-laws are being enforced and it is part of the CPF’s responsibility to ensure that laws are upheld and policed,” he adds.
Mike says the CPF has no intention of preventing people from attempting to earn an honest living.
“The public does, however, have a right to know that someone providing a security service is who he or she says he or she is,” he adds.
“They need to know there is some form of legal control.”
Mike says there are many other regulations in the by-laws that stipulate this.
These include section 142.2 which states that a permit granted in terms of the by-laws may immediately be suspended or cancelled by the council if the permit holder:
• Is intoxicated while performing his or her duties as a parking attendant.
• Cleans or washes any motor vehicle on a public road or in a public place.
• Through intimidation, demands a donation or fee for guarding a vehicle.
• Damages or threatens to damage a vehicle in any way for not receiving a donation fee.
• Fails to produce the permit or an identification card on request.
“We accept most car guards are honest people trying their best to make an honest living and if they operate within the bounds of the law, they have nothing to worry about,” says Mike.
Mike says the CPF welcomes the debate and looks forward to feedback from the public.
“Comment from the general public on this matter would help us in moving forward.”
