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The Portfolio Committee on Police welcomes the National Police Commissioner’s assurance that he intends emphasising crime intelligence and detection as drivers of policing to effectively fight crime.

It is the Committee’s long-held view that crime intelligence is the most potent weapon in the fight against crime. Furthermore, the Committee welcomes the announcement that the Deputy Commissioner of Crime Detection will be announced later today. The Committee has on a numerous occasions highlighted the importance of an effective team to give guidance to the different police units.  

The Committee also welcomes the pronouncement that the police will institute lifestyle audits. The National Commissioner told the Committee that the lifestyle audit process will begin as a project, with a future rollout across the system. “The fight against fraud and corruption will be strengthened through these lifestyle audits,” said Mr Francois Beukman, the Chairperson of the Committee.

The Committee further welcomes the National Commissioner’s move to review the capacity of the vetting section of the South African Police Service (SAPS). The Committee also supports the decision to vet all officers as a requirement for employment in the police service.

The Committee has instructed the SAPS to present a comprehensive progress report on the disciplinary cases against all officers in crime intelligence in January 2018. The Committee has also urged the National Commissioner to appoint the new Divisional Head of Crime Intelligence as a priority. 

The Committee also raised its concerns about the arrest rates in the Uber/Maxi taxi disputes, despite the work of a special unit. The National Commissioner has committed to give a detailed report on the matter by January 2018.

The Committee drew the National Commissioner’s attention to the matters of emphasis raised by the Committee in its Budget Review Recommendation Report, which require implementation.
 

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Francois Beukman