Dealers posing as car gaurds.

Melville flooded with drug dealers, muggers, vagrants and street children…once again.

Jonathan Dubb of the Melville community reports:

I have been receiving a number of reports of persons being mugged by individuals using pepper spray, in particular in 3rd Avenue.
The corner of 3rd Avenue and 3rd Street has become home to six individuals who sell dagga.
They have previously been arrested/picked up for possession of drugs and or loitering in the area as well as drunk in public.
Despite numerous complaints and meetings with Brixton Police, these individuals continue, loitering, selling drugs, littering, drunk and drinking in public, intimidate, threaten, harass residents, school children and visitors.
These individuals do not live or work in Melville. Their business in Melville is illegal and detrimental to the overall wellbeing of the safety of the area. They operate within ten metres of a primary school and a few metres from places of worship and outside residents homes.
Over weekends these individuals move into 4th Avenue plying their trade to the numerous visitors to the area. They illegally pose as car guards and wear reflective jackets, some of whom wear security vests, boldly displayed on the back of the vest.
These individuals are detrimental to businesses in the area and their presence gives the impression that anything goes in Melville.
Following an intiative funded by business owners in August – November 2008 a number of these individuals were arrested and convicted. The area was clean of dealers, vagrants and street children. Residents were seen walking to the shops, pushing prams and generally enjoying the freedom of not being harassed and intimidated by these individuals.
Since the initiative ended, cars have been broken into, attempts to steal cars have taken place, muggings and attempted muggings have increased, dealers have returned to the area, and residents are no longer seen walking to the shops. The police are not respected by these individuals as is clear by their continued presence.

Although the time to take action has passed a long time ago, it is not too late, to take Melville back into the hands of the community, and rid the area of unsavory characters.

If you are concerned about the continued decline of the area, please email your concerns and objections to melville@infoadsouthafrica.com

Your concerns will be taken up with the relevant authorities for action, and will be followed up on a continuous basis.

We all want a safer, cleaner and drug free Melville