POLICE officers have the responsibility to help complainants find a suitable shelter or obtain the necessary medical treatment after a case of domestic violence is reported.  

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This is according to Hillcrest SAPS communications officer, Capt Linzi Smith.

According to Smith, police officers have a duty to inform complainants about the steps they can take to ensure they are protected. 

“While attending to the complaint, a policeman will determine if the respondent has committed an offence of violence against the complainant. The officer may arrest the respondent without a warrant of arrest if there are obvious signs of a severe beating, assault GBH or assault with a weapon,” said Smith.

She said the police officer should inform the complainant that an application can be made to the court for a protection order.

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The court will advise the complainant about the procedure for obtaining a protection order and the implications thereof.

According to Smith, when a court issues a protection order, the court must also make an order authorising the issue of a warrant for the arrest of the respondent.

“This warrant of arrest will be suspended as long as the respondent complies with any prohibition, condition, obligation or order imposed in terms of Section 7 of the Act.”

She added that the warrant referred to will remain in force until the protection order is set aside or cancelled.

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