Five prisoners escaped from the Phoenix Police Station this afternoon, Saturday 23 October. It is believed that four prisoners have been rearrested with one still on the run.
Umesh Singh, Chairperson of the Phoenix Community Policing Forum (CPF) confirmed the incident and said that the escapees had been detained for minor crimes such as shoplifting and theft. He further confirmed that four prisoners were rearrested.
“One of the grills from the cell was cut open and that’s how they managed to escape. Investigations are on-going,” said Singh.
Singh said that as much as necessary precautions were taken, the criminals did escape.
“We commend the police for the arrests made and urge anyone with information to come forward,” said Singh.
MPL Sharon Hoosen, Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Community Safety in Kwazulu-Natal said that upon hearing of the incident, the DA immediately contacted the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Mkhwanazi to verify the story.
“Lt Gen Mkhwanazi further confirmed the rearrest of the four prisoners. The security at the Phoenix Police Station is becoming a joke. How can prisoners escape in broad day light? Who were the officers on duty monitoring the cameras outside the cell? The station commander and the officers on duty have a lot to answer for,” said Hoosen.
Hoosen said that the community of Phoenix continue to live in fear with the high rate of sexual assault and community crimes that continue to spike in the community.
“The Phoenix Police Station should have been well resourced in terms of functioning security systems, manpower and vehicles. It is becoming common in most police stations that the security system and cameras that monitor jail cells do not function. It will be interesting to know how prisoners escaped in an environment that is supposed to keep perpetrators securely behind bars. If there is a break in the security system at this police station serious intervention must be made to secure this station for the safety of the community, “ she said.
Hoosen said that the DA will be calling on the Provincial Police Commissioner to urgently investigate the circumstances of this incident.
“If the officers on duty are found to be guilty of dereliction of duty, then they deserve to be dismissed, including the station commander. The Democratic Alliance will be following this story closely,” she added.
