Newly branded vehicles to intensify operations for the Hawks
The Deputy Minister of Police Magdeline Sotyu and the National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega handed over newly branded vehicles to the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI) to intensify its fight against serious crimes at a special event held at Silverton, on Wednesday, 8 April 2015.
The purpose of branding these vehicles is so they can be clearly visible to the members of the public. The newly branded vehicles are part of the Hawks plan to significantly boost vehicle capacity by an additional 80 vehicles during the current financial year and will contribute to the current figure of 1478 vehicles that has been allocated nationally. The milestone hand-over forms part of process underway to re-focus the Directorate and to effectively deliver on its mandate.
The high powered vehicles which are for operational purposes, will be used in tackling serious crimes such as ATM bombings, drugs, police killings, taxi violence and cash in transit robberies, to name a few. Branding will ensure visibility and recognition will go a long way in differentiating the members of the Hawks from criminals who masquerade as its members to defraud unsuspecting victims of huge amounts of money and other valuables.
The Hawks are making significant progress in combatting serious crime. Some of the recent notable successes by the Hawks include a takedown operation in which gold with a total value of R76 million was seized and 40 syndicate members were arrested. Another operation targeted a high level criminal enterprise involving an international diamond trade. Fifty one arrests were made. During a poaching prevention operation involving a syndicate in KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast, two Rhino horns worth R2-million, were seized and 24 suspects arrested.
As part of the new focus and efforts to strengthen service delivery, the Hawks have also embarked on a recruitment drive of key personnel and positions of 14 senior managers and 50 anti-corruption personnel have been advertised. A further 200 posts will also be soon advertised.
In an effort to enhance the image of the Hawks, a public engagement programme will be implemented, where communities will be engaged on issues of crime, especially serious violent ones and corruption. This interaction will go a long way in improving the operations of the directorate and its relationship with the public at large.
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