Crime has a new enemy patrolling the streets of Florida.
Introducing to you ICE (In Case of Emergency) – a proud community organisation established on 11 February to assist the local police to safeguard the Florida community against criminal activities.
As one of the role players in the war against drugs in June in Florida, the Record spoke to the founder and chairperson of ICE, Luqmaan Rahim to find out what it is they do and stand for.
They have their own kit, code of conduct, identity cards and force of at least 370 members.
One of their main objectives is to tackle the drug issue destroying the community.
“Should we stop buyers, then there is no need for drug dealers to hang around in our area,” Rahim explains.
Other aims and objectives of ICE include cultivating a sense of unity, dedication and good neighbourly relations among the residents of Florida, provide a channel through which local communities can play a meaningful role in crime prevention in a ethical and non-violent manner, create public awareness with regard to safety, crime prevention and protection of families and their property, encourage the community to work in close cooperation with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other structures such as local authorities who are involved in law enforcement, and to perform a service and a specific function towards the improvement of the community and to do so without prejudice.
They also aim to unite a diverse residency in creating a stable and crime-free environment.
Rahim makes it clear that ICE will assist the SAPS in crime prevention in the Florida area and that they are not vigilantes (one who takes or advocates the taking of law enforcement into one’s own hands. Source: thefreedictionary.com).
“ICE will adopt and support the social crime prevention policy of SAPS and must operate within the framework of the law. Only minimum force may be used to secure an arrest as defined in Criminal Procedure Act No 51 of 1977.
“ICE Patrollers will have powers similar to that of any other citizen to perform a citizen’s arrest and the requirements set out in this Act will be adhered to and complied with at all times.”
ICE’s Code of Conduct states further that all patrollers must at all times act in a non-violent manner.
“No patrollers may take the law into his or her own hands irrespective of circumstances,” Rahim adds.
“No ICE patroller will display racism, sexism or any other form of discrimination towards any other patroller or any other person. No patroller shall carry any weapon perceived to be dangerous as defined by law when patrolling.
“Only weapons for the sole purpose of self-defence as approved by the Provincial Commissioner of the Florida SAPS may be used.”
