Concerns over police officers with criminal records

Mluleki Mrwebi
14 April 2014

Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa said he is concerned about the high number of police officers who have criminal records. 

An audit found that 14 448 officers have criminal records. The police are now removing 1 017 while another 67 have left the service. 

Minister Mthethwa said this action demonstrates that the force is making progress in efforts to rid the police of dishonest people.  

Ministerial Acting Spokesperson David Barritt said the process has been delayed because a trade union in the Eastern Cape sort of caught injection but the Minister is serious about this.

Meanwhile the Portfolio Committee on Police has welcomed this move. 

However Committee Chairperson Annelize van Wyk said they are concerned that SAPS conducted the audit during a particular time frame because it does not include those might have acquired criminal records post-2010. 

Van Wyk said we would like to see SAPS put in line it is bad to criminals as police.

Van Wyk added that there should not be an audit every 5 to 10 years and get rid of police found guilty of crime they should be fired when it happens. 

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