The Commanding Officer of the Motor Traffic Unit (MTU), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Awuni, has warned the public to desist from blocking streets for funerals and other activities. He said the practice constitutes a punishable offence. He has, therefore, asked the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to stop issuing permits for people to block roads for such purposes. "It is unlawful and the Criminal Act 296 describes it as a public nuisance, "he told the Times in an interview yesterday. He said such practices were also against road traffic regulations in the country because they posed danger to road users. The Commander said the Road Traffic Act 683 of 2004 section 22(1) states that a person commits an offence if without lawful authority or reasonable excuse that causes anything to be on or over a road: (1)b interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer or cycle. According to the Act, a person who commits such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 250 penalty units or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or both. To fight such practices, ACP Awuni said he has instructed his men to remove such blockages when they came across them. ACP Awuni said assemblies provided the public with permits to block roads for funerals on the main roads which did not protect road users. "I personally stopped a road blockage at Odorkor during a funeral, but I was surprised to be told they had been granted permit by the Sub-metro, which should not be so,” he insisted. He urged sub-metros to collaborate with the police to access the suitability of the areas before granting road permits where necessary and also give prior notice to road users. ACP Awuni entreated the various assemblies to establish recreational centres to cater for the increasing demand of places for such occasions.