Forensic unit receive new vehicles
Minister of Police officially handed over more than 130 vehicles to the criminal record centre units for quickly responding to crime scenes.
The minister of police has stressed that the over 130 forensic vehicles handed over to the detective and forensic service units on Friday, June 7 are for performing their duties and not for personal errands.
He stressed they are to be used to respond to crime effectively and collect crime data thoroughly.
Police minister General Bheki Cele said the vehicles were a bid to enhance and improve functions of policing and to respond timeously to crime scenes by experts.
Cele spoke during the handover ceremony at the Tshwane SAPS Academy Rugby Field in Pretoria.
The criminal record centre units are responsible for linking suspects to crime scenes through evidence collection and analysis.
Cele was joined by the National Commissioner of the SAPS General, Fannie Masemola.
In handing over the cars, Cele emphasised that the unbranded vehicles had to be used with care and to improve the response time to crime scenes by crime scene experts.
“Officers must not misuse the cars for their own pleasure.”
Cele said the police’s responsibility was not to make and negotiate laws but to enforce them.
He said these vehicles would be spread out to provinces to help the units stationed in various areas.
Photo: Facebook/SAPS
He requested that the vehicles also be used to respond to crimes involving women, children, and the elderly as they should always be prioritised.
Masemola reminded unit members receiving cars to be careful when collecting evidence from the crime scene.
If one messed up at the crime scene, “they might as well mess up with the case”.
“The men and women in blue also need tools of trade.”
Deputy national commissioner for crime detection, Lieutenant General Sibiya expressed gratitude to all the attendants and SAPS members.
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