By Jane Chanda
Acting Inspector General of Police Milner Muyambango says most unauthorised check points and road blocks are mounted at undesignated points and are risking the lives of motorists and other road users
And Muyambango has warned that any officer who will be found manning unauthorised check points will be dealt with accordingly.
In a statement, Muyambango stated that the command has for some time now been receiving numerous complaints from members of the public regarding the conduct of some police officers who mount unauthorised or illegal check points and roadblocks in some parts of the country.
He stated that most of these unauthorised check points and roadblocks are mounted at undesignated points thereby putting the lives of motorists and other road users at risk.
“Police command is extremely concerned and will not condone such unethical behaviour. We wish to sound a stern warning against such officers,” Muyambango stated. “Each and every officer is expected to enforce traffic laws and regulations in an ethical manner and within the law. Any officer who will be found manning unauthorised Check points will be dealt with accordingly.”
Muyambango stated that while traffic check points and roadblocks were essential tools of law enforcement, it was evident that some officers were abusing them.
“This state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue. Respective provincial police commanders should always ensure that, any check point or roadblock should only be established where the security situation demands so,” he stated.
The acting Inspector General of Police has encouraged members of the public to report any suspicious check point or roadblock immediately so that remedial action was taken against such police officers.
He also stated that officers are guided to operate within the confines of the traffic laws and regulations such as the provision of Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) to erring motorists which is applicable to some traffic offences.
Muyambango stated that this gives motorists a period of seven days within which they could pay for the offence(s) at any Police Station.
He stated that police officers in uniform at check points and roadblocks or where ever they were operating from should always display their name tags with their service numbers and names on them visibly so that members of the public know who they are dealing with at any particular moment.
“If the police officer has no name tag displayed, members of the public are at liberty to request for their names and service numbers. When an officer is requested to furnish his details to a member of the public, the officer should willingly do so,” he stated.
Muyambango further stated that members of the public should as well desist from bribing police officers as relevant provisions of the law would be applied on them as well.
