Poor detective services in New Brighton should be attended to, says Police Committee
The Portfolio Committee on Police has called on the provincial Police Commissioner and the Port Elizabeth (PE) Cluster management to urgently launch an intervention exercise at the New Brighton police station.
“It is apparent that there is a serious management challenge with detective services at New Brighton police station. This does not bode well for crime prevention and the ability to police the area. The Committee accepts that some of the issues are structural and beyond the police’s competences,” Mr Beukman said.
The Committee visited New Brighton police station earlier today, where it was revealed that the policing area included approximately 130 000 residents and yet the station had only two informants. Other challenges highlighted include poor street lighting, poor house numbering in informal settlements, a shortage of vehicles, confidentiality and office space for detectives, language barriers and poor handling of dockets.
Mr Beukman said the provincial Commissioner together with the cluster commander should make sure that there is an improvement of detective services.
“The Committee is concerned about the increase in contact crimes and serious crimes. But equally concerning is the lack of employment of informants as well as the handling of dockets and other evidence materials at the station,” he said.
The Committee will on Friday visit the KwaZakhele police station, among other police stations in the area.
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Sibongile Maputi (Mr)
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