'SAPS should control Scorpions'

2005-03-23 18:12

Johannesburg - The Scorpions should fall under police control to prevent fragmentation, confusion and a duplication of roles, said the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union on Wednesday.

Popcru said: "The fragmented approach to policing is creating a lot of confusion and surely we see duplication of roles by different policing agencies.

"The Scorpions unit is misplaced as it belongs with the SA Police Services."

The Scorpions fall under the umbrella of the justice department.

President Thabo Mbeki had set up a commission headed by Judge Sisi Khampepe to assess whether the Scorpions - more formally known as the directorate of special operations - should stay where they were or fall under the department of safety and security.

Popcru welcomed Khampepe's appointment.

"Without necessarily pre-empting the outcome of this investigation, we can't wait to have the Scorpions incorporated into the SAPS."

The union said: "Our position on this matter is informed by a constitutional imperative that, there shall be a single policing authority under one national police commissioner."

- SAPA