Unease at police revamp being 'rushed through'

The Institute for Security Studies has attacked the police ministry's green paper on policing, saying it was drafted by "insiders".

The institute objected to the speed with which the public participation process now under way is being pursued and said proposed legislation would be probably be rushed through parliament ahead of next year's general election.

But police ministry secretary Jenny Irish-Qobosheane said several parties, including the institute, had been involved drafting the green paper.

The proposals put forward in the document include the consolidation of all policing in a single national force, the retention of military ranks and curtailing the powers of metro police and private security companies.

ISS senior research consultant Peter Gastrow said the green paper had been drafted by a small group of government insiders and was quietly being rushed through the public participation process.

"The government has adopted this 'safe' approach to ensure that it can fast-track the process and maybe enact the legislation ahead of next year's general elections. It is not surprising that there is no public debate on the green paper, and there are no opportunities for citizens to air their views on what their expectations of the police are," said Gastrow.

The DA last month also criticised the green paper, saying a centralised police service would require a change to the constitution, which gave municipalities the right to establish a metro police service.

Irish-Qobosheane said it was hoped that the public participation process in all nine provinces would be completed by the end of this month. The green paper was released only last month.

The SA Police Union and the Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union have welcomed the green paper, as well as moves to form a single police force, which they said was essential for effective service delivery.

A recent survey by Transparency International found that 83% of South Africans had lost confidence in the police. South Africa is one of 36 countries in which the police were perceived to be the "most corrupt" public institution.

Gastrow said the green paper was weak on what the police could do to reduce complaints about crime committed by police officers.