A Facebook page dubbed 'Mombasa Crime Alert' has been termed illegal after claims that the group managing the page had taken over police duties of arrest and detention of criminals.
Coast Regional Police Commander Francis Wanjohi, on Tuesday evening, implemented the ban after they received complaints of harassment and intimidation from Mombasa residents, who reported that some of the page administrators were pretending to be actual security officers.
“The reports we have been getting from members of the public are not very pleasing. The group cannot operate in this county. They have a well established network and operate like a mafia squad, with their faces covered with masks to conceal their identities when conducting the operations,” said Wanjohi.
'Mombasa Crime Alert' has allegedly highlighted criminal activities, road accidents in Mombasa and posted pictures of missing persons and suspects on its Facebook page.
Wanjohi said that they did not oppose citizen policing, but there were guidelines to be followed.
“We are not opposed to their role in assisting in community policing, but it’s against the law to allow individuals to assume the role of security officers. There must be guidelines in handling security matters,” said Wanjohi.
The area police boss also urged residents to be alert as they dealt with administrators of the page.
County Commissioner Nelson Marwa last week instructed his officers to arrest the administrators of the page, saying that some of them were taking the law into their own hands.
Reports also indicate that the people behind the page could be influential individuals in the county.
