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12.01.2008 Social News

Police Impound 100 Unlicensed Motorbikes

12.01.2008 LISTEN
By Edmund Mingle & Anita Nyarkoh - newtimesonline.com

The police yesterday morning impounded about 100 motorbikes in an operation at the New Times Corporation traffic light to rid the capital of unlicensed motorbikes.

Most of the impounded bikes did not have the requisite documentation, while the riders were also not in crush helmets and did not have licences.

Some of the riders who could not produce their documents immediately, told the police that the documents were at home, but those who produced the documents were released.

A Police Chief Inspector, who declined to give his name, told the Times that the police would keep the seized bikes until the owners produced the documents covering them.

He said the operation, which is ongoing throughout Accra, is part of efforts to prevent the increasing practice of the use of motorbikes to commit crimes.

The Accra Regional Police Command recently declared war on unlicensed motorbikes, following the increasing use of motorbikes by criminals to commit crime in the capital.

Most cases of mobile phone and handbag snatching recorded last year were committed by criminals on motorbikes.

Speaking to the Times, Accra Regional Police Commander, ACP Kweku Opare Addo, said although the exercise had been on-going, it had been intensified in view of the soccer fiesta which takes off next week Sunday, January 20.

In a related development, the police, in collaboration with the Motor Traffic Unit (MTU), on Thursday undertook an operation during which unlicensed motorbikes in and around Darkuman were impounded.

The police also seized motorbikes not having valid documents, as well as those with fake number plates and without number plates.

The Times saw at the Darkuman traffic lights that some motorists, on seeing the police, jumped the traffic lights and sped off.

Others immediately turned and made their way back.

Chief Superintendent Abdulai Mohammed, Accra West Divisional Police Commander, later explained that the exercise was necessary to reduce the crime rate in the country before and during Ghana 2008 tournament.

'Some people use the motorbikes to commit crimes, ranging from the snatching of bags, money and mobile phones from the unsuspecting members of the public,' he said.

He said the exercise would continue even after the tournament.

To ensure a successful exercise, he said police teams have been put at vantage points in the city.

Chief Superintendent Mohammed advised all motorbike riders to carry along their documents and further advised the public to be alert of bag snatchers, especially during the period of the tournament.

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