By: Natasha Archary
More than 90% of SA drivers don’t feel safe when they’re pulled over by police.
This according to a survey by Action Society, on the police trust indicator survey which reveals that 92% of motorists don’t have any trust in the country’s law enforcement.
Data shows that most drivers feel unsafe and unsure about whether they should trust the police officers who pull them over.
More than 50% of those who took the survey indicated that they were asked for a bribe and 75% revealed that members of the police failed to introduce themselves during the stops.
Director of Community Safety, Ian Cameron said that the SA Police Service is becoming a trojan horse for criminals looking to neutralise any trust citizens might have left for the country’s criminal justice system.
“At a time when bogus and criminal cops terrorise innocent citizens more than ever, these statistics emphasise the dire need for police reform in SA.”
Cameron said that kidnappings remained the biggest concern, with more than 37 reported kidnappings per day, or more than 1000 a month.
“Considering the threat of fake police or criminal SAPS members may have with kidnappings, the trust indicator survey paints a bleak picture for the future.”
In order for the sentiment towards police to change, Cameron suggest the following solutions.
- A skills audit of SAPS nationwide to determine the merit of appointments and sack those SAPS officials who do not make the cut.
- Polygraph all members, starting with leadership to determine whether they have been involved in any corrupt activities, if so, sack them.
- Restore crime intelligence capabilities.
- Reinstate specialised units that can effectively deal with serious violent crime without having to live in the community they work in.
- Crime kingpins, including those with state connections, must be targeted and taken out of operation.
- Restore reservist capabilities, specifically to support specialised units. It is of utmost importance these reservists don’t come from the said communities for intimidation to be limited.
- Pay police members properly.
- Implement police devolution in the Western Cape as proof of concept.
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