What to do if the police refuse to open a case

What do you do if the police officer in the charge office refuses to open a case after you have been a victim of crime?
Amanzimtoti SAPS communications officer, Captain Charlene van der Spuy offers the following advice:

“No member of the public will be refused if they want to open a police case. The police officer must provide the complainant with a valid reason for the case not to be opened. When a complainant is dissatisfied with the reason, he or she should ask for the shift commander to attend.

When a case is being reported for insurance purposes only, where the complainant does not require further investigation, there is no need for a case docket to be opened for further investigation. An incident report can be made which is captured on the system and an IR reference number provided to the complainant.

A copy of the incident report can be provided. A complainant will not be shown away without a valid reason. When a complainant does not have the necessary information for a case to be registered, they will be asked to return with the required information, so that they can be assisted.

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If an officer refuses to open a case, the complainant should ask to talk to the shift commander to address the matter immediately. If unresolved, the complainant must record the officer’s name, date and time of incident. This information needs to be brought to the attention of the VISPOL commander.”