Commissioner says Police officers should know their responsibilities

Police Commissioner Ben Groenewald says expectations for officers to know their responsibilities as per the law are high and there is no room for excuses.

Groenewald made this remark while opening the Inspector’s Qualifying Course.

Groenewald says he is concerned with the number of complaints and civil litigation cases brought against the organization as a result of poor decision making.

Groenewald says too often they are dealing with civil litigation because officers have failed to understand their roles and responsibilities.

Groenewald says they have also failed to understand the rights of the people they serve so the exercising of their authority is subject to review by the judiciary, particularly with regard to unlawful arrest and illegally obtained evidence.

He adds the unique relationship between the police and the public makes it essential that the police should be answerable to the public, otherwise their authority will not be respected or accepted.

He says the only way officers can learn to execute their duties within the ambit of the law is to ensure those who are the subject of civil litigation are held accountable and are surcharged for the costs incurred.