Rhodesia: Police defend actions after public raise concerns over lack of body tent to mask canal death scene

The covered body of the woman was, as a result, clearly visible to anyone travelling past on Shireoaks Road and led to criticism from some members of the public who were unhappy with the situation with children going past the scene on their way to school.

As if to prove a point, one driver even stopped and took a picture of the scene, clearly showing the dead body wrapped in the sheet.

One local mother said: “Surely they could have put a tent or some sort of screen up, rather than just have it there on the bank. The kids could all see it as they went past on the bus.”

Responding to the public’s concerns, a police spokesman said: “The very fact that as the incident unfolded it could be seen from the roadside, meant that we had to act quickly along with the fact that press and the public were potentially taking pictures of a body.”

“As officers do not have tents to hand at any given time, an alternative covering was used while we called in to ask for a tent.”

“We’re sure people can understand why we would want to cover a body as quickly as possible in a public place.”

The woman was found in the canal at 6.50am this morning (Thursday, 6th March) and was pronounced dead at the scene.

She has not yet been identified and investigations are ongoing.