Seven people were arrested in Busabala after police at Kibiri conducted an operation against bars that play loud music.
The Police at Kibiri has carried out an operation on bars that play loud music in Busabala and arrested seven people from two bars.
In a statement announcing the arrest, Luke Owoyesigyire the deputy police spokesperson said the operation was done following a public outcry and a directive from the Deputy Inspector General of Police to the territorial Police to work hand in hand with Environment Police to curb Noise Pollution.
Owoyesigyire said the suspects are currently detained at Katwe Police station on allegations of noise pollution.
He, however, revealed that before their arrest, the police and community had several times raised complaints and warning about the noise coming out of their establishment.
“The Police would like to inform members of the public to always be mindful of their neighbors and only use the required decibels in a residential area. The Police has also been informed through Community liaison officers to at all times move around communities and holding Community engagement meetings on noise pollution,” Owoyesigyire said.
The arrest comes after the police last month issued a warning that they are going to start holding operations to help track down noise ordinances.
According to Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson noise provided it distorts the peace of another individual is illegal and prohibited in the country.
He said it is unlawful for any person to willfully make or continue or cause to be made any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise which disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighbourhood or causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person, of normal sensitiveness residing in the area.
Enanga however, said members of the public need to understand that, because something is loud, it does not mean it’s illegal.
He said there are exceptions including sounds overheard when there is emergency work, public health, safety activities, and industrial zones among others.
The police spokesman explained that it will be the duty of the police environment team to determine the magnitude of the noise pollution before a decision can be taken.
Enanga said a number of aspects will also be considered including time of the day and zoning of the area.
“Therefore, the task team will jointly determine the standards, as to whether there is a noise ordinance violation or not. These include; the sound level of the objectionable noise, the proximity of the noise to residential sleeping facilities, nature and zoning of the area, with which the noise emanates, time of the day-night the noise occurs, duration of the noise and its musical content, whether the noise is continuous, recurrent or intermittent,” he said.
