POPCRU FULLY BEHIND OPERATION FIELA

22 May 2015

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) affirms its full support for Operation Fiela and acknowledges its success rate achieved thus far.

The operation has so far ensured areas known to be harbouring criminal elements are confronted, and thus yielded positive results in the fact that since its inception last month, over 223 suspects have been apprehended for murder, with another 137 up for possession of unlicensed firearms. A further, 169 were held for rape and 146 for robberies. 

Although these operations have been effective, we believe a strong presence of police in our communities is a longer term solution and should be maintained in dealing with the day-to-day challenges.

POPCRU is equally opposed to the view that this operation is targeted at foreign nationals and do not believe it perpetuates xenophobia in the pretext of equating undocumented foreigners in the country with crime.

Most importantly is that the Operation has ensured the reduction of illegal firearms, alleged rapists, robbers and drugs, therefore making communities a safer place than would have been had it not taken place.

We acknowledge the efforts by the men and women within the law enforcement agencies who ensure we sweep out perpetrators who are hell-bent on creating instabilities in our society.

Statement issued by POPCRU, May 22 2015