South Africans urged to contribute to Policing Green Paper

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The Police Ministry wants public participation and submissions to the Green Paper on Policing to help create a professional, accountable, transparent and responsive police force.

The policy framework which is the Green Paper sets out the broad policy thrust for the South African Police Service (SAPS) over the medium to long-term. It also aims to position the police service to adapt and respond to a constantly evolving crime landscape while remaining steadfast to democratic policing.

The Ministry is currently holding public consultation processes around the country.

Police spokesperson Zweli Mnisi said the public consultations are serious and not limited to urban areas with communities in remote rural areas also targeted for consultation.

Mnisi urged all South Africans who make submissions and inputs to inspect the policy document in its totality.
“As the Ministry of Police we are not going to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach in dealing with crime but the Green Paper emphasises the importance of an integrated and sustainable crime strategy.
“It aims to create a horizon for the type of police service that is desirable and represents the ethos of a democratic country.”

On Monday public consultations were held in Cape Town with attendees raising and deliberating on issues ranging from police response times, partnerships with communities, resource allocation, ill-discipline by some members of law enforcement agencies, performance measures, accountability as well as institutional arrangements.

The attendees also offered possible solutions to be incorporated into the Green Paper.

One of the dominant issues at the workshop was around the Green Paper proposal of a single police service.

Mnisi maintains transforming the police is central to the fight against crime with the Green Paper guiding the aspirations of all law abiding South Africans.
“In transforming the police we had to strengthen the civilian oversight, deepen its relationship with communities, build partnerships with civil society, labour and business and contribute to the observance of the culture of human rights.”

Deadline for submission of comments has been extended to 20 July 2013 to allow South Africans to make inputs.

The Green Paper on Policing is available on various websites including www.policesecretariat.gov.za or www.gov.za or www.saps.gov.za. Copies of the policy document can be obtained from the Civilian Secretariat for Police on (012) 393-2519