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We accept that the "system" is broken. We understand that it needs to be fixed - but how?
So I'm always first to mouth of on problems in terms of crime, but is there a solution?
To my humble mind, here's what needs addressing within the policing/ criminal justice sphere - and no, you can't tackle one without the other, they're symbiotic in every sense.
Abolish affirmative action within saps and justice dept.
Have it where-ever you please, but not in these departments. Policing only understands one color and that is blue. It's a mission critical service just as the justice department is where you need the right person for the job irrespective of color. I'd rather have a fit and active policeman of the "wrong color" than an overweight "I just need a job" policeman of the "right color"
1400+ Criminals
Yes, SAPS still have 1400+ officers with existing criminal records that slipped through the system. At this stage, how isn't the issue, it's getting them out that counts. Good bye, you're fired. Go to the CCMA, go to labor court - whatever, just go. Let SAPS legal services spend their time justifying the decision and not working out how to get rid of them. Every day that they're there is a blot on the system. Make a statement, be decisive and just get it done.
23% (estimated) Sick Lame and Lazy
If you're too sick to be at work, you're too sick to stay in the service. Anyone who'se been of for more than 3 months in one year (except injuries on duty) goodbye. Yes it's harsh, but we're in crisis and need people that can work. If there's any indication that it's a illegitimate sick claim, lay them off and head to court to justify it. Clear out those spaces on the salaries tab for new recruits.
Appoint Drivers
Sure this may be a shock, but SAPS usually has 1 vehicle dedicated at shift change to taking members home. Appoint vehicles that are clearly marked as staff-transport or something and keep that vehicle and resource away from the resource allocation for visible policing etc.
National Commissioner & Provincial Commissioners
Sorry, but they all have to go. These should be positions where the potential incumbents are elected by the communities that they will serve. They should stand for election and be chosen based on merit, their plan and abilities and their CV's. No political appointments. Politics and policing never ever mix well (as we've seen in SA). I accept that the National Commissioner is more a figurehead and representative than anything else, none the less this should be an elected post by the people and not by the political party that the people voted for. Again, politicians should stay out of policing, this is why we the people need to vote directly for those positions. Can't have a provincial commissioner "indebted" to the politicians that placed him there - that's ridiculous and hardly transparent.
De-Centralise training
Training should be a priority and not an afterthought. Compulsory refresher courses on a regular basis at cluster level and not provincial which is currently the case. Appoint roving trainers that move station to station conducting workshops with the emphasis on using experienced officers with proven track records to conduct the training - use the experience that's available. Make budget available for a vetted list of private companies to also participate in training and let that budget be assignable at station level. Thereby, the station can assess the needs, present their reccomendations to the CPF who can approve the expenditure on the training that the station NEEDS to deliver service to that community. This will also stimulate job creation and create a path for members leaving the police to create training programs that they can be contracted to deliver. A win-win for SAPS, the community and of course exiting members.
Recruitment
Standards, standards and more standards. STOP accepting sub-standard recruits. There's a huge amount of unemployment in SA. Take only the cream of the crop and accept nothing less. Fitness tests, rigorous background screening and aptitude tests. Appoint on a fixed 1 year contract, renew for a second and appoint permanently from there. Yes, I also mean that the minimum pass rate for training at college HAS to be above 70% in all aspects, physical, criminal law etc. etc. NO dropping the bar or setting easy papers.
Specialised Units
Immediately recruit from existing members to re-establish the core units that require specialised skills and should never have been disbanded. That means bringing back the Gang Intelligence Units, Priority Crimes Unit (with legal skills), the murder and robbery division, child protection unit, Drug squad (old sanab), and proper specialised border police AND an active anti-corruption unit overseen by the Dept. of Justice that focuses on ground level policing.
Integration
No need for separate traffic police officers, metro structures. De-centralise policing entirely to a provincial level. Let each province have it's own police force (we need a force not a service) and let that province have all available resources. Policemen that are also able to enforce traffic violations create visibility and enforcement at the same time. It bolsters resources and makes for more feet on the street. Unity and not separation.
Courts
There should be an attorney at every police station to assist the detectives with preparation of dockets for court. We also need a clear division in our courts where minor offences are expedited and handled by a separate infrastructure within the communities. Converting under-utilised suburban halls would more than suffice for this. I mean really simple common law crimes (petty theft etc.) and involve members of the CPF as lay assessors so that they can give feedback to their communities on what's happening at a court level. We need simple streamlined court processes to minimise the load on the courts needed for more serious offences.
USE organisations like Nicro for diversions, alternative sentencing and plea bargaining.
Introduce a mandatory 5 year add-on sentence for those who plead innocent and are found guilty - if you want to commit a crime, then play silly buggers pretending to be innocent, there should be a penalty for wasting court time and public money. Sucks to be you - don't do the crime in the first place and if you're caught, man up and take responsibility for your actions.
Drugs
Every suburb should have a walk-in drug counselling center that's open and free to anyone wanting to get off the stuff. Kill the market and you'll kill the trade.
Police Killings
It is unacceptable, deplorable and a complete demoralizing DISGRACE that we have in excess of 250 police killings per year! Every time a policeman loses his life we hear the same rhetoric "condemn in the strongest terms.... bring to justice, blah blah blah."
Unacceptable. Proper action is required. Justice Dept. needs to insist on life without the possibility of parole for the killing of a police officer and nothing less. A unit needs to be established with the finest detectives, legal counsel and resources to go back at least 5 years and start investigating case by case (more than 5 would be near impossible) and actively hunt every one of the scum involved down and bring them before a court. No tolerance, no excuses, a straight deliverable from that unit of convictions of offenders.
This is critical to morale and ongoing recruiting within SAPS.
Marketing
Get a real marketing company to actively work on highlighting the good work, the superb task force teams we have, the exceptional detectives and terrific arrests. A simple bland press release doesn't work. Follow the New York model and establish a proper film and media-liaison department that actively works with reality, documentary and conventional film teams to help them portray SAPS properly and create positive PR.
Hold regular open sessions with the press in which questions are answered honestly and without political speak and jargon. Just be honest with the public, it's so much easier.
Reservists
Use them properly. Understand what drives and motivates them, recruit as many as possible and train them professionally. NEVER EVER pay them! Community service with no payment or nothing. The reward is in the job, the learning experience, the skills acquisition and camaraderie. If the person isn't up for that then let them walk away. Re-visit the rulings on reservists and even allow them to place themselves on duty if they see the commission of a crime. Managed properly and recruited correctly they are a superb force multiplier and the best PR tool that the police has by far!
Training
It is unacceptable that a police officer is required to fire around 100 rounds of ammunition through his pistol every year (lately 3 years). That is ridiculous. It's no wonder that the weaponscraft skills of civilians is overtaking that of law enforcement. Contract private shooting ranges so that they can train as much as they can! (not play - train) and use as much ammunition as they need. It is ludicrous that weapon retention is not taught actively beyond college level. It's a lifesaver and crucial skill. If you're going to carry a weapon you had better know how to use it. Outsource firearms training where necessary to stimulate job creation and increase standards.
Enter into agreement with national brands like Virgin for example that gives free gym access to every serving policeman. You don't want policemen who are unfit because they can't afford gym memberships.
Statistics
They're pretty meaningless except for on the ground low level analysis. So much time is actively wasted on chasing numbers to paint a "nice" picture that it's ridiculous. Just stop. The numbers are what they are anyway. Put up a big billboard outside every police station that displays the stats daily - why not? They are what they are and if we focus on policing and not political word games and numbers, the stats will fall on their own and become a real reflection.
Station Resources
Immediately employ and deploy one psychologist to every police station with more than 50 members. Have them focus on employee wellness, evaluations, counselling and team building. With a registered psychologist (civilian appointment so they remain approachable) at each station there is SO much research data to be achieved in just letting that individual evaluate suspects and contribute to understanding the criminal mindset - nevermind having that skill available for internal counselling. Policemen get divorced and have financial crisises etc. just like everyone else apart from the job related stress.
CPF
USE the CPF structures, don't manipulate and abuse them by just appointing "ja-boeties". A proper CPF should have a permanent office in the station, civilian oversight over the budget and overtime as well as input on resource deployment and basic management - after all, the Police may be the "company" however the COMMUNITY whom the CFP represents are the paying clients.
Security Companies
Perform a due-dilligence on all large security companies. Pick the biggest with the largest demographic spread, well vetted officers and good logistics. Then BUY them. Yes, buy them out. Let their staff undergo a bridging course provided they're suitably qualified, re-brand their fleet and transfer their logistics to station levels. Done. You now now have an immediate additional force that can be integrated and the company will survive just fine with their alarm monitoring business alone. It's actually not that far fetched an idea in terms of rapid skills deployment and advancement to bolster numbers.
Finally, yes some of these may seem far fetched ideas and near impossible logistically - however if we can raise the money and build stadiums in the shortest possible space of time then why aren't the above possible?
What needs to happen is simple. We need to stop talking about change and trying to ease it into place. We need drastic action and a revolution of sorts. Sure there's logistical and legal implications - but with the right motivation anything is possible.
In policing terms, we're talking about peoples lives - I can't see any more righteous or necessary motivation at all.
I'm a realist, I deal with what is real and in front of me and what it means. Blame is a waste of time that can be used to fix what's wrong and I believe that if we just had a government with enough desire and people with the motivation to find ways to DO things and not excuses not to - then we'd be just fine.
YES, we can re-write laws. If we can introduce e-tolling and pass privacy laws that flout the constitution then we can sure as hell write laws that uphold it and pass them overnight if we have to.
Would it be hard to apply the above? I don't know, is it harder than burying a loved one lost to wanton crime? Is it harder to watch a sliding economy affected by crime? Is it really harder to just accept reality of our current position and do what has to be done? Or is it that our politicians lack the desire, the real rooted, heartfelt desire to make our country governable?
So I'm always first to mouth of on problems in terms of crime, but is there a solution?
To my humble mind, here's what needs addressing within the policing/ criminal justice sphere - and no, you can't tackle one without the other, they're symbiotic in every sense.
Abolish affirmative action within saps and justice dept.
Have it where-ever you please, but not in these departments. Policing only understands one color and that is blue. It's a mission critical service just as the justice department is where you need the right person for the job irrespective of color. I'd rather have a fit and active policeman of the "wrong color" than an overweight "I just need a job" policeman of the "right color"
1400+ Criminals
Yes, SAPS still have 1400+ officers with existing criminal records that slipped through the system. At this stage, how isn't the issue, it's getting them out that counts. Good bye, you're fired. Go to the CCMA, go to labor court - whatever, just go. Let SAPS legal services spend their time justifying the decision and not working out how to get rid of them. Every day that they're there is a blot on the system. Make a statement, be decisive and just get it done.
23% (estimated) Sick Lame and Lazy
If you're too sick to be at work, you're too sick to stay in the service. Anyone who'se been of for more than 3 months in one year (except injuries on duty) goodbye. Yes it's harsh, but we're in crisis and need people that can work. If there's any indication that it's a illegitimate sick claim, lay them off and head to court to justify it. Clear out those spaces on the salaries tab for new recruits.
Appoint Drivers
Sure this may be a shock, but SAPS usually has 1 vehicle dedicated at shift change to taking members home. Appoint vehicles that are clearly marked as staff-transport or something and keep that vehicle and resource away from the resource allocation for visible policing etc.
National Commissioner & Provincial Commissioners
Sorry, but they all have to go. These should be positions where the potential incumbents are elected by the communities that they will serve. They should stand for election and be chosen based on merit, their plan and abilities and their CV's. No political appointments. Politics and policing never ever mix well (as we've seen in SA). I accept that the National Commissioner is more a figurehead and representative than anything else, none the less this should be an elected post by the people and not by the political party that the people voted for. Again, politicians should stay out of policing, this is why we the people need to vote directly for those positions. Can't have a provincial commissioner "indebted" to the politicians that placed him there - that's ridiculous and hardly transparent.
De-Centralise training
Training should be a priority and not an afterthought. Compulsory refresher courses on a regular basis at cluster level and not provincial which is currently the case. Appoint roving trainers that move station to station conducting workshops with the emphasis on using experienced officers with proven track records to conduct the training - use the experience that's available. Make budget available for a vetted list of private companies to also participate in training and let that budget be assignable at station level. Thereby, the station can assess the needs, present their reccomendations to the CPF who can approve the expenditure on the training that the station NEEDS to deliver service to that community. This will also stimulate job creation and create a path for members leaving the police to create training programs that they can be contracted to deliver. A win-win for SAPS, the community and of course exiting members.
Recruitment
Standards, standards and more standards. STOP accepting sub-standard recruits. There's a huge amount of unemployment in SA. Take only the cream of the crop and accept nothing less. Fitness tests, rigorous background screening and aptitude tests. Appoint on a fixed 1 year contract, renew for a second and appoint permanently from there. Yes, I also mean that the minimum pass rate for training at college HAS to be above 70% in all aspects, physical, criminal law etc. etc. NO dropping the bar or setting easy papers.
Specialised Units
Immediately recruit from existing members to re-establish the core units that require specialised skills and should never have been disbanded. That means bringing back the Gang Intelligence Units, Priority Crimes Unit (with legal skills), the murder and robbery division, child protection unit, Drug squad (old sanab), and proper specialised border police AND an active anti-corruption unit overseen by the Dept. of Justice that focuses on ground level policing.
Integration
No need for separate traffic police officers, metro structures. De-centralise policing entirely to a provincial level. Let each province have it's own police force (we need a force not a service) and let that province have all available resources. Policemen that are also able to enforce traffic violations create visibility and enforcement at the same time. It bolsters resources and makes for more feet on the street. Unity and not separation.
Courts
There should be an attorney at every police station to assist the detectives with preparation of dockets for court. We also need a clear division in our courts where minor offences are expedited and handled by a separate infrastructure within the communities. Converting under-utilised suburban halls would more than suffice for this. I mean really simple common law crimes (petty theft etc.) and involve members of the CPF as lay assessors so that they can give feedback to their communities on what's happening at a court level. We need simple streamlined court processes to minimise the load on the courts needed for more serious offences.
USE organisations like Nicro for diversions, alternative sentencing and plea bargaining.
Introduce a mandatory 5 year add-on sentence for those who plead innocent and are found guilty - if you want to commit a crime, then play silly buggers pretending to be innocent, there should be a penalty for wasting court time and public money. Sucks to be you - don't do the crime in the first place and if you're caught, man up and take responsibility for your actions.
Drugs
Every suburb should have a walk-in drug counselling center that's open and free to anyone wanting to get off the stuff. Kill the market and you'll kill the trade.
Police Killings
It is unacceptable, deplorable and a complete demoralizing DISGRACE that we have in excess of 250 police killings per year! Every time a policeman loses his life we hear the same rhetoric "condemn in the strongest terms.... bring to justice, blah blah blah."
Unacceptable. Proper action is required. Justice Dept. needs to insist on life without the possibility of parole for the killing of a police officer and nothing less. A unit needs to be established with the finest detectives, legal counsel and resources to go back at least 5 years and start investigating case by case (more than 5 would be near impossible) and actively hunt every one of the scum involved down and bring them before a court. No tolerance, no excuses, a straight deliverable from that unit of convictions of offenders.
This is critical to morale and ongoing recruiting within SAPS.
Marketing
Get a real marketing company to actively work on highlighting the good work, the superb task force teams we have, the exceptional detectives and terrific arrests. A simple bland press release doesn't work. Follow the New York model and establish a proper film and media-liaison department that actively works with reality, documentary and conventional film teams to help them portray SAPS properly and create positive PR.
Hold regular open sessions with the press in which questions are answered honestly and without political speak and jargon. Just be honest with the public, it's so much easier.
Reservists
Use them properly. Understand what drives and motivates them, recruit as many as possible and train them professionally. NEVER EVER pay them! Community service with no payment or nothing. The reward is in the job, the learning experience, the skills acquisition and camaraderie. If the person isn't up for that then let them walk away. Re-visit the rulings on reservists and even allow them to place themselves on duty if they see the commission of a crime. Managed properly and recruited correctly they are a superb force multiplier and the best PR tool that the police has by far!
Training
It is unacceptable that a police officer is required to fire around 100 rounds of ammunition through his pistol every year (lately 3 years). That is ridiculous. It's no wonder that the weaponscraft skills of civilians is overtaking that of law enforcement. Contract private shooting ranges so that they can train as much as they can! (not play - train) and use as much ammunition as they need. It is ludicrous that weapon retention is not taught actively beyond college level. It's a lifesaver and crucial skill. If you're going to carry a weapon you had better know how to use it. Outsource firearms training where necessary to stimulate job creation and increase standards.
Enter into agreement with national brands like Virgin for example that gives free gym access to every serving policeman. You don't want policemen who are unfit because they can't afford gym memberships.
Statistics
They're pretty meaningless except for on the ground low level analysis. So much time is actively wasted on chasing numbers to paint a "nice" picture that it's ridiculous. Just stop. The numbers are what they are anyway. Put up a big billboard outside every police station that displays the stats daily - why not? They are what they are and if we focus on policing and not political word games and numbers, the stats will fall on their own and become a real reflection.
Station Resources
Immediately employ and deploy one psychologist to every police station with more than 50 members. Have them focus on employee wellness, evaluations, counselling and team building. With a registered psychologist (civilian appointment so they remain approachable) at each station there is SO much research data to be achieved in just letting that individual evaluate suspects and contribute to understanding the criminal mindset - nevermind having that skill available for internal counselling. Policemen get divorced and have financial crisises etc. just like everyone else apart from the job related stress.
CPF
USE the CPF structures, don't manipulate and abuse them by just appointing "ja-boeties". A proper CPF should have a permanent office in the station, civilian oversight over the budget and overtime as well as input on resource deployment and basic management - after all, the Police may be the "company" however the COMMUNITY whom the CFP represents are the paying clients.
Security Companies
Perform a due-dilligence on all large security companies. Pick the biggest with the largest demographic spread, well vetted officers and good logistics. Then BUY them. Yes, buy them out. Let their staff undergo a bridging course provided they're suitably qualified, re-brand their fleet and transfer their logistics to station levels. Done. You now now have an immediate additional force that can be integrated and the company will survive just fine with their alarm monitoring business alone. It's actually not that far fetched an idea in terms of rapid skills deployment and advancement to bolster numbers.
Finally, yes some of these may seem far fetched ideas and near impossible logistically - however if we can raise the money and build stadiums in the shortest possible space of time then why aren't the above possible?
What needs to happen is simple. We need to stop talking about change and trying to ease it into place. We need drastic action and a revolution of sorts. Sure there's logistical and legal implications - but with the right motivation anything is possible.
In policing terms, we're talking about peoples lives - I can't see any more righteous or necessary motivation at all.
I'm a realist, I deal with what is real and in front of me and what it means. Blame is a waste of time that can be used to fix what's wrong and I believe that if we just had a government with enough desire and people with the motivation to find ways to DO things and not excuses not to - then we'd be just fine.
YES, we can re-write laws. If we can introduce e-tolling and pass privacy laws that flout the constitution then we can sure as hell write laws that uphold it and pass them overnight if we have to.
Would it be hard to apply the above? I don't know, is it harder than burying a loved one lost to wanton crime? Is it harder to watch a sliding economy affected by crime? Is it really harder to just accept reality of our current position and do what has to be done? Or is it that our politicians lack the desire, the real rooted, heartfelt desire to make our country governable?
