Up to the task
Police are hoping that by bolstering the Ekurhuleni Central Cluster Task Team with a new division, criminals will receive lengthy sentences and there will be a reduction in repeat offences.
Maj-Gen Poobalan Subbiah, Ekurhuleni Central Cluster commander, at the end of September introduced a new wing to supplement the existing task team, which was established 14 months ago, under Capt Alie van den Berg.
The new division is under the command of Lieut-Col Eugene Scheepers.
The Ekurhuleni Central Cluster Trio Task Team now consists of its original group of tactical members who trace wanted people involved in serious crimes.
The new team, which works jointly with the existing one, consists of 22 “highly experienced” and “seasoned” investigating officers, Subbiah said.
“We want to send out a message to criminals that we will use our investigative abilities to ensure that we bring them to book, and when they are convicted, the sentence is more than justified,” said Subbiah.
“We want to put criminals behind bars for a long time.
“… We want to reduce the volume of crime and ensure repeat offenders are dealt with severely because most of our crime comes from repeat offenders.”
The commander said his idea has always been to expand the initial task team, which is now possible with the larger cluster.
He said with the bigger cluster he was able to take one or two members from each of the 11 stations, ensuring resources are not bled dry at a station level.
Subbiah said the team of 22 investigators will assist at a station level if needed, and emphasised that there are still very dedicated and efficient detectives at the station level.
Subbiah said Scheepers is the “ideal candidate” for the job.
Scheepers has been in the police service for 31 years, having been a detective for 29 years.
“We have a lot of experienced and committed people that are not reluctant to go the extra mile,” said Scheepers.
Reza Patel, Ekurhuleni Central Cluster CPF chairperson, welcomed the addition to the task team.
“This new development is a quantum leap for policing and allows for seamless action from crime scene to courts,” said Patel.
“Current processes involve dockets being carried by detectives who already have a workload.
“This action sees dockets being held and investigated by task team members who will focus on these specific cases from beginning to end.”
He said the time span from a crime occurring to police presenting a case for action at court will improve “dramatically”.
“A specialised group dealing with the scourge of modernised high-end crime is very necessary, and this is a very practical implementation,” he said.
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