Cop killings on the increase
2003-10-27 07:44
Pretoria - Police commissioner Jackie Selebi on Sunday called on the public to protect from assaults and killings, while warning of the need for members of the force to have proper training and the right equipment to cope with the dangerous tasks they face.
The call came after revelations that police killings were up by 7.9% on the previous year.
Selebi was speaking at a special commemorative service at the Union Buildings in Pretoria for all those who had died on duty in 2002.
The commissioner's national spokesperson, director Sally de Beer, said: "The murder of police officials remains a source of deep concern and frustration for the management of the South African Police Service.
"Commissioner Selebi has described the SAPS as a large family and, as head of this family, it is extremely distressing for him to be told on an almost daily basis that a police official has been shot and wounded or killed."
De Beer said it was disturbing that, after a steady decline in police killings in recent years, the figure had actually risen in 2002/'03 when a total of 150 were murdered. That represented a 7.9% increase on the previous financial year.
Good training essential
Selebi said: "Most police officials are killed while in hot pursuit of a suspect or while physically attempting to arrest a criminal."
He said it was critical every effort be made to ensure their safety.
"One of these steps is to logistically equip members with the tools necessary to perform their duties safely, such as bulletproof vests and firearms."
He said good training was also of great importance and should include everything from general safety precautions to special weapons and technique (Swat) training which covered safe methods of performing house penetrations, arrests and the buddy system.
He called on the public to play a part in preventing police killings.
"Police officials are the protectors of the people of this country and no community should tolerate a police killer in their midst".
While thanking those who made up the police service, Selebi urged them to always wear protective gear when on duty and to be alert at all times - even off-duty.
- SAPA