Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Special training course for police dealing with GBV victims
FIFTY police officers from police stations have received training on how best to deal with victims of gender-based violence (GBV), and to make them better officers of the law.
With the growing rate of GBV in the province, there are hopes that this will only be the start on how to prepare police officers to treat victims with sensitivity, and even assist with their own relationships.
The training was conducted by Ilitha Labantu, a women and children’s rights organisation.
Ilitha Labantu spokesperson Siyabulela Monakali said often police officers lacked training, and that reaction to GBV victims played a huge role in facilitating and even cases reaching dockets or the courthouse.
Police members from Gugulethu, Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Lingelethu, Harare, Philippi East and Lwandle Police Station were the first to receive training in a two-day intervention held in Philippi this week.
“The purpose of the training is to capacitate members of the South African Police Services with the necessary skills and knowledge to adequately address the scourge of gender-based violence and other related matters,” Monakali said.
“Ilitha Labantu strongly believes that it is through our collective effort that we can effectively address the scourge that is plaguing our homes and communities.”
Monakali added with the rapid growth of GBV cases, skills were important for police to better understand their victims and their circumstances.
“Ilitha Labantu is of the (view) that ongoing training creates a capable workforce with an adequate amount of knowledge and skill set, “said Monakali.
“Over the years not enough emphasis has been placed on the training and development aspect, particularly regarding members of our police service. As a result of this lack of training, we have witnessed on various occasions police mistreatment of victims of crime, particularly GBV-related crimes, which require a level of sensitivity and understanding to adequately address.
“With a rapidly changing socio-political and socio-economic environment come new obstacles and challenges for police to address, with a need for ongoing training so that police officers can stay informed in order to better serve their communities.
“With particular reference to gender-based violence, which has reached incomprehensible scales, we need a police service that is up to the task of effectively addressing GBV and femicide, and possesses the knowledge and skill to be of best service to victims and survivors of violence and abuse.”
A police officer who has more than 20 years of service under his belt, said he felt the training would not only assist members at work, but also at home with their personal relationships, which often ended tragically.
Richard Mamabolo, of Popcru (the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union), said the training would assist in cases being investigated and was a valuable asset to the police.