Russell Mason, Richwood
Reading the story about the car that crashed into the house and the subsequent “reasons” for not pursuing a case against the drivers (“Answers sought after crash”, Tabletalk, October 18), it is extraordinary that no action has been taken and so quickly.
Clearly crashes like that do not happen if the driver is driving in accordance with traffic laws, so they must have at least been driving at speed to cause such damage.
On top of that, there is the strong suspicion that the occupants were under the influence of alcohol.
As an ex-UK police officer, it is procedure to breathalize the driver of any vehicle involved in a traffic incident to determine if alcohol was a factor in the accident.
Other traffic offences could be looked at, such as driving without a licence or insurance.
This was a serious incident that was clearly not investigated correctly and thoroughly.
Is this because there was a suggestion one of the occupants was a police officer? It is also extraordinary that “due to no injuries being caused to a person during the incident” the case was closed.
Does that mean drivers are now at liberty to drive around as they want causing damage left, right and centre and as long as nobody is hurt, that is perfectly okay?
Captain Adriana Chandler is the “go to” person for Tabletalk and other such publications with regards to policing issues, and she is keen to have her name in the papers as often as possible it seems to me.
May I remind her that whilst community relations is an important part of policing today, the detection and investigation of crime and bringing offenders to justice is what she and all the other police officers in SAPS are paid to do.
Captain Adriana Chandler, Table View police spokesperson, responds:
The author is respectfully reminded that the guidelines/regulations of South African Police Service differs to that from another country.
The officers on the scene did their job in a correct manner, there are no breathalisers on police vehicles and this method of testing someone for driving under the influence is inadmissible in the South African Court of Law.
The investigating officer was consulted prior to my response to the media on the investigation and I was informed that all the correct procedures was followed.
If there were no injuries sustained to an individual, there is no need to investigate a reckless and negligent driving case.
The author needs to be informed that I do not submit articles for my own gratification in seeing my name published.
I am appointed by the Minister of Police, and I am doing my job as a communication officer in ensuring that there are weekly reports, be it crime awareness, responding to media enquiries or projects submitted to the local print media.
