More reports of Amanzimtoti police not opening cases

Since the articles published in the SUN about Amanzimtoti SAPS officers refusing to open cases at the charge office, number residents and business owners have called in to report similar incidents.

A Winklespruit businessman, who does not wish to be named, told the SUN when he had a break-in at his premises last year, the police refused to open a case and only gave him an incident report (IR). “Only after I went back three times, did they eventually open a case,” he said.

His brother had his air-conditioner stolen in November and when he tried to open a case, the police would only give him an IR as well. Only after insisting he needed a case number for insurance purposes, did they open one.

“I also know of a break-in at a laundromat close to my premises where the owner was also only handed an IR and the police refused to open a case. It seems there is a serious problem with some officers refusing to do their work and the station commander needs to address it.”

READ ALSO: No case opened for Amanzimtoti home invasion

Toti residents also weighed in with their comments online. Cheryl Coldrey said the SAPS in Toti were never really on the ball but reporting of their inefficiencies and negative behaviour of late are very disturbing. “Why isn’t anything being done to rectify this blatant disregard of public service?”

Mike Techet said the police do not like to open cases because it puts their crime stats in a bad light. “Every CAS number gets registered and onto stats. No CAS means no crime happened. No crime makes cops and the station commander look good. Too much crime and questions will be asked and there goes the performance appraisals of the station and management.

Insist on opening a case and get a CAS number. Crime is crime, even if it was an attempted crime. If a lot of crime is reported, the lazy cops will be sent packing and more resources will be made available to the area, in theory at least.”

The SUN sent a query to Amanzimtoti SAPS communication officer, Captain Charlene van der Spuy requesting comment from station commander, Col Bonginkosi Nkabinde about all the cases being reported where police refused to open a case and only issued an IR.

READ ALSO: What to do if the police refuse to open a case

Acting station commander, Lt Col R Kitching responded: “A case docket is opened when a criminal offence is reported by a complainant. Some complainants just want to report incidents for insurance purposes, in which case an IR is registered.

Certain insurance companies do not require case dockets for insurance claims, in which instances the complainants do not want to open a case docket. The complainant is then furnished with the IR number which is then given to the insurance company. The complainant is not forced to open a case if he/she does not want to.

We have also noted certain complaints are only reported to security companies and not  SAPS, resulting in SAPS not even being aware that a crime or incident took place. Crime cannot be addressed properly and investigated without a case docket opened and complainants are encouraged to report all cases, so it can be investigated.

When a cellphone is stolen or lost and the owner only wants to report it for insurance, the IMEI number for the cellphone (serial number) and the ITC reference number, which is to be obtained from the service provider, is required to register a specific cellphone incident on the system. The complainant is then furnished with a reference number which can be given to the insurance company. A copy of the report can also be obtained, if needed.

When a complainant wants to open a case, but the police refuse to do so, they must ask for valid reasons why the case is refused. The complainant should ask for the relief commander and record the date and time of refusal and the relevant officer’s name. The matter can then be brought to the attention of the Vispol head or station commander for investigation.

Complainants are urged to put complaints in writing, so a file can be opened to investigate complaints. It is preferred that any complaint pertaining to service delivery whether it is poor service in the CSC, when complaints are attended or during investigations should be in writing to ensure the matter is addressed.”