Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Reagen Allen carried out visits to the St Helena Bay, Saldanha and Vredenburg police stations on 5 and 6 June 2023. These visits were prompted by the recent crime statistics that were released just over a week ago.
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The reports indicate potential deviations from the standard operating procedures (SOP) regarding morning and afternoon parades and handovers at certain South African Police Services (SAPS) stations.
When officers report for duty, the SAPS shift commander should follow a strict SOP, which among others includes the following:
- Conducting a parade where operational members are tasked and briefed
- Ensuring that all members are sober, neat, dressed accordingly and have the necessary and required equipment
- Inspect the occurrence book
- Conducting an inspection of firearms
- Relaying crime and any other critical information obtained from the previous shift
- Indicating to members what their duties and or postings are and what is expected from them
- Relaying specific information about patrol areas and
- Conducting an inspection of the holding cells
Minister Reagen Allen expressed his satisfaction, stating that it was a pleasant surprise to arrive at the Vredenburg SAPS Station at 5:45 in the morning and discover that Captain Kruger, the shift commander, along with all his operational officers, had already reported for duty ahead of the 6am commencement.
Unfortunately, at another station, the shift commander displayed less punctuality and not all SAPS members reported for duty. Those who did report for duty arrived after their scheduled shift had commenced.
The minister expressed his concern about the issue of ‘severe under-resourcing’ at the St Helena Bay SAPS Station. He said that the station currently operates with a police-to-population ratio of one officer for every 498 residents, which raises significant concerns, especially considering that it serves as one of the smaller towns along the West Coast. The minister also noted an urgent need for critical maintenance to be done to various parts of the building.
‘I will be engaging the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile about the needs of the St Helena Bay station. I will request that the one station where the parade did not occur and where I witnessed a lethargic attitude urgently be attended to. All station commanders should note that I will on a random basis visit their parades, as this sets the tone for how officers will conduct themselves during their shift.’
‘It is critical that at all times, a professional SAPS service is rendered and experienced. As the Western Cape Government, we want to ensure that our oversight leads to better services from SAPS. Once SAPS is devolved to a capable provincial government such as ours, we will ensure that the standards set by Captain Kruger and others like him are maintained and improved upon,’ concluded Minister Reagen Allen.
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Picture: Supplied