DEAR Editor,-
It has become the norm for local (and countrywide) newspapers to report on the lackadaisical response to emergencies from our supposed law enforcement agencies. Two of the most recent incidents occurred in Port Shepstone between 11pm and 5.30am where robberies in progress were reported to the police.
Just last week it was reported in the Herald that a robbery in progress at 4.30 am was reported to the police and they responded 90 minutes later, allowing the criminals enough time to leave the province.
After every incident it was reported that the station commander (or another very senior police spokesman) declared that such behaviour was completely unacceptable and would be investigated in-depth. Really?
It is obvious there is no control whatsoever on the movement of state vehicles and where and what officers who man them are doing. If they pretend to know what’s going on, then it boils down to nothing less than serious dereliction of duty and maybe also fraud and corruption.
If not for security companies who now do the groundwork for our safety, we would be in serious trouble. Most of the time they are first on the crime scene, stabilise the situation and then have to wait for the police who turn up hours after the fact and steal the thunder. These companies also know exactly where their vehicles and staff are at any given time.
Following are my own first-hand observations, most of which can be validated by anybody who is not a rocket scientist.
1. It seems as though everybody who wears a uniform has a state vehicle to use as they see fit. No wonder one of the regular excuses is that there are no vehicles available for emergency callouts.
2. Not a day goes by without finding police/traffic vehicles at shopping centres where occupants walk about with guns on the hip as though they are busy with crime prevention. You can tell from their physique that the ‘good life’ is treating them well. During this time they are not available should an emergency crop up.
3. Police vehicles are used for private errands and shopping sprees. Many out of town vehicles can be seen completely out of place.
4. Police vehicles seem to be used as private taxis, amongst other venues, they can be seen at schools in the morning and afternoons, whilst supposedly on duty.
5. I watched a police van on duty being used for driving lessons to a woman constable in a remote parking lot. Late one night not long after, I had the misfortune of placing an emergency call to the police. They responded hours later with all lights flashing on the van and it turned out that the woman who was driving had no clue how to drive a car.
6. If you have no response to an emergency callout during the night (referring to recent reports), you may find police on duty fast asleep at home until about 5.30am when they report to the station before their shift ends at 6am.
I would like to stress that not all police are corrupt and there are many, especially older members, who earn our respect. Some of them have become household names and are regularly mentioned in reports after performing their duty.
The only thing the station commander needs is to have a system in place so that she will be able to tell exactly who was where when and what they were doing.
MACKIE
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