Lack of experience of police members makes them targets of crime

By Lelethu Mquqo
8 May 2011

A general lack of experience amongst police members often makes them victims of violent crime.

Security expert at the Institute for Security Studies, Johan Burger, says criminals take advantage of the police members’ weaknesses, such as their lack of firearms experience or their vulnerability to corruption.

Meanwhile, People do not always understand the Constitutional mandate of the Independent Complaints Directorate.

Spokesperson Moses Dlamini says this leads to community members complaining that the ICD is a pointless organization.

Dlamini says ICD carries out impartial investigations into police misconduct and makes recommendations based on that.

He says their role is not to discipline police members.