Green light for 'train police'

2003-03-05 15:38

Donwald Pressly

Cape Town - A "transport police" section comprising 21 mobile units and about 1 700 staff is to be established to protect commuters on South African trains.

This follows a Cape High Court ruling last month that Metrorail and the transport ministry have a legal duty to protect the lives of train commuters.

The ruling said the onus fell on the police to protect passengers and the ministry was given four months to comply with the court order.

Deputy national police commissioner André Pruis was responding on Wednesday to a flurry of questions from MPs - including the ruling African National Congress - serving on the National Assembly safety and security committee.

Pruis said the "transport police" would be part of the division of protection and security which was being created in the restructuring of the police service.

The entire division would ultimately consist of 14 000 people who would be responsible for the trains, VIP protection, key points, strategic installations and the transport of prisoners in mobile protection units.

Pruis said police, transport and Metrorail were looking at "a comprehensive system of using technology and other systems" - not only extra manpower - "to secure people on trains".

He said "ad hoc operations" were already in place on trains. - I-Net Bridge

- News24