Underlying fault-lines

Police Commissioner Bheki Cele appeared before parliament requesting funds to hire more police to turn the tide on crime. But more bodies are not, on their own, going to promote efficiency until we increase performance in other areas of policing. Continuous training, rooting out internal corruption, increasing managerial skills, morale-boosting, absenteeism and alcoholism are among the problems needing attention. If we do not clean up the system new recruits will learn old corrupt habits.

Gangs attacking police stations is also not normal behaviour for criminals. The attacks suggest that criminals have developed a total scorn for policing.

Criminals are contemptuous of the ability of the police to defend the business community and their own citadels. They are contemptuous of police investigative skills, believing they’ll never be caught and if they are, they’ll beat a justice system riddled with loopholes and off-ramps. Bail and slap on the wrist sentences put them back on the streets to enjoy the fruits of their loot.

The question for the top police leadership is what behaviours by our police are inviting such contempt. The potential list is long. We’ve seen the pictures of police taking naps in full view of the public at police stations, inattentive workers allowing criminals to infiltrate, corruption that makes evidence and dockets disappear. But there are managerial problems too. How often do police stations run practice drills on detecting or repelling an assault? They know they may have to face one.

Perhaps Treasury should give Cele more funds to hire police on condition that he has a plan to root out the deficits that have led to such contempt for the police.

Cele may need to preside over the establishment a new police culture – a new value system that invites respect not scorn. – Wongaletu Vanda