Few police stations have two-way mirrors
WHILE identity parades are critical in terms of gathering information for cases, it is of paramount importance that the victim identifying the suspect is comfortable at all times.
This is according to national SAPS spokesman Brigadier Vish Naidoo.
He confirmed that only a few police stations had two-way mirrors.
““Victims are not forced to (attend) identity parades,” he said.
“They don’t have to be up close to indentify and point out an assailant, but far enough so they are not seen,” he explained.
He said an identity parade was, however, both critical and beneficial to a case.
“We encourage victims to point out or identify their attackers in order to add more substance and confidence to the case.”
Where there were no rooms with twoway glass, investigating officers and detectives have been instructed to use other stations that have them, Naidoo said.
“In Durban, among the police stations that are equipped with the facilities are Durban Central and the Brighton Beach SAPS.”
Naidoo said the Phoenix victim should have been properly briefed about how the parade was going to be conducted before being taken to the station.
“In this case, the victim was afraid and identifying the victims in the manner that she did was more traumatising and uncomfortable.
“If the officers knew beforehand, they could have made alternative arrangements without the woman confronting the suspects for the second time.”
Naidoo admitted that the officers’ conduct was totally out of line.
For crime to be reduced the public needed to have faith in the police, he said.
Naidoo urged victims to seek clarity from investigating officers when participating in an identity parade so their safety was not compromised.