Inspection reveals Brackendowns Police Station is run down

DURING an oversight visit to Brackendowns Police Station by the DA some stark realities of the working conditions of the officers there came to light.

The visit was conducted by DA Gauteng spokesperson for community safety Michele Clarke MPL and Ekurhuleni Ward 94 councillor Marina van Wyk.

The inspection was aimed at reviewing the operational state of the police station and determining the necessary improvements that need to be made.

The building that houses the station was not built for that purpose, but as a bus stop. The SAPS has been renting it since 1993. Of late the lease has been on a month-to-month basis.

It is a full-colonel station, which means it should have access to the necessary resources for a station at that level. Brackendowns SAPS serves three sectors in Alberton, including Brackenhurst, Brackendowns, Mayberry Park, Alrode and Meyersdal. The size of these sectors poses a challenge in itself, and the resources available to the officers stationed there make policing a daunting prospect, said the sources.

The motor pool is insufficient for the required number of patrol vehicles necessary per sector. Two police vehicles should be on patrol in any sector at a given time. But the station averages closer to three vehicles on patrol rather than the requisite six. The secondment of officers to other posts sets a further limit on manpower.

The sources said the conditions at the station are not conducive to effective policing. There is only one functional toilet for women and one for men. These toilets have to be used both by staff and civilians who come to the station, and the state of the toilets is questionable.

The offices are rented modular structures. These are run down, with considerable damage to the walls and floors. There are too few offices to accommodate the number of officers, the sources pointed out. One office has a floor space of 3m by 3m and is shared by three on-duty officers. It is uncomfortable and too hot, making it difficult for officers to perform their duties. Open cables hang between the main building and the offices, creating a safety hazard.

The filing space is insufficient and files are kept outside stacked in boxes. The lack of available bandwidth creates problems with online filing.

There is no shelter for those who have to visit the back offices, for example, the firearms licensing office, and people waiting to be served have to sit outside on a bench.

The temporary holding cell at Brackendowns Police Station has no functional toilet and can only be used for male suspects. Female suspects are held in the charge office as the station may not mix male and female suspects. Suspects can only be detained on the premises for one hour before they have to be moved to the cells at Alberton Police Station.

“The state of the environment in terms of its effect on police officers as well as the community is terrible,” said Clarke.

“These conditions are not conducive to effective staff and this, in turn, affects policing. We will take the questions raised here to the MMC and if necessary follow through on a national level.”

Comment was requested from the spokesperson for the Brackendowns Police Station but she was unwilling to comment. She referred the enquiry to provincial management, but no comment was available at the time of going to press.

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