Police say 'no' to 'instant justice'

Police have rejected a request from some villagers in Matabeleland South Province to be allowed to mete out instant justice on livestock thieves and other criminals who are terrorising them. The villagers made the request after several of the apprehended criminals fled to neighbouring countries upon being granted bail by the courts.

Speaking in Skuta, Filabusi, recently, during a meeting with senior police officers led by the National Anti-Stock Theft Coordinator Senior Assistant Commissioner Erasmus Makodza, the villagers said in some cases, the suspects had come back into the country to terrorise them again.

They expressed concern at the way the courts were dealing with criminal cases, especially those involving stocktheft and requested permission to punish the offenders. Snr Asst Comm Makodza, however, turned down the appeal saying it was an offence for anyone to take the law into their own hands.

"People should not take the law into their own hands. Any suspected criminals who are apprehended by members of the public should be taken to the police for further investigations," he said.

He reiterated that the force was lobbying Government and relevant authorities to ensure that criminals who were taken to court would get deterrent sentences.