Cops 'not trained for graves'

2009-11-09 16:03

Cape Town - National police commissioner Bheki Cele has told Sky News that the police are not going to be soft and diplomatic on criminals, and police are "taking them on at their own game".

In an interview with the British news channel, Cele reiterated that police officers should kill criminals if they are under attack.

"We are simply saying we are not going to train police for graves when we have the equipment and the law on our side.

Cele also told Sky News that he wants the Criminal Procedure Act amended so that police officers do not hesitate to pull the trigger for fear of repercussions later on.

"That's what we want our officers to do. What we are looking at is to amend it to say police that are using deadly force should not be responsible to carry the sin of doing that. They must be protected by the government.

Law-abiding citizens

"It looks like criminals feel they own the space. They can't own the space.

"The space must be owned by the law-abiding citizens of this country and they must feel the country belongs to them. This country is for those that are law-abiding."

Cele has come under fire for his tough talk on cracking down on criminals, with opposition parties and other organisations voicing concerns about "trigger-happy" police officers.

"We are simply saying we are not going to train police for graves when we have the equipment and the law on our side," he told Sky News.

"I'm simply saying if they shoot you using cameras, please my officers, smile.

"But if they shoot you using guns, please make sure that you shoot back and shoot decisively."

- News24