Dear Editor,
I was driving out of Foulis (Enmore) on Saturday night about 10.30 pm. A Police patrol car was parked about 50 yards into the Foulis access road and a roadblock was in place and being manned by a Traffic Constable and two Lance Corporals in “dark clothes”. The Lance Corporals carried weapons.
Drivers were being stopped by the ranks and subjected to breathalyser tests. I was in a line of six vehicles. After some wait I drove up to the road block and told the constable that I do not drink and that I lived in the next village and I was allowed to pass. I proceeded to the Railway Embankment and parked my vehicle and walked back past the roadblock and pretended to search for something on the ground. I then went among about 12 persons who were standing about 20 feet from the roadblock. My enquiries informed me that they were told that they will be charged for drunken driving unless they could “talk to the Police properly”.
I revisited the area about 7:30 yesterday morning and I learnt that the Police do this every Saturday and Sunday nights. I am informed that this is how the Police make their pocket money. This practice had become an institution, according to the residents in the area.
Editor, as a Community Activist, I find this repulsive and I feel compelled to bring this matter to light. These ranks should be patrolling on the main roads instead of setting up roadblocks on inner roads and fleecing people.
Myself and so many others voted for change and a halt to corruption. Maybe we were naïve, but at least we can air our views through forums like yours and hope that the relevant authorities do their own investigations.
Don’t take my word for it; the residents who live there see Police doing this every weekend. They are eager to talk.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)
