Police efficiency in the spotlight
JOBURG - Despite being required to carry a firearm, over a quarter of the country’s police force has failed the firearm proficiency tests deeming them competent to do so.
The DA has raised concerns about the safety of the officers and the public after parliamentary questions posed to police minister Nathi Nhleko revealed that by 14 July, only 116 201 of 155 534 police members met the minimum standards for firearm competency.
The DA’s Shadow Minister of Police, Dianne Kohler Barnard said this indicated that 39 333 operational police officers did not have the requisite competency to carry a firearm.
“It is of great concern that not all of our police service members have the necessary training to perform their jobs to the best of their ability,” Barnard said.
“This not only puts them in danger, but it may also result in harm to members of the public when they perform their duties.”
In 2012, a leaked audit report revealed that at the time more than 27 000 police officers were not competent to carry firearms after failing their firearms proficiency test.
Barnard said the most recent figures confirmed what was revealed in the leaked performance audit, and therefore called on Nhleko to take urgent steps to address the matter.
Additionally, responses to further parliamentary questions by the opposition party revealed that between 2010 and 2013, only 40 out of the 516 police officers that were found guilty of helping prisoners to escape had been dismissed.
In addition, of the 907 police officers charged with aiding an escapee in the same period, 98 of the cases were withdrawn.
“There is a clearly a complete lack of accountability in our police service for crimes committed by police men and women,” Barnard said.
She said the current situation could not continue without intervention, adding that the DA planned to request that the Portfolio Committee on Police conduct a full investigation into the matter.
