Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has welcomed Western Cape SAPS Commissioner Thembisile Patekile’s backing for expanded powers for metro police.
In an interview with News24, Lieutenant General Patekile endorsed ‘expansion of powers’ for Metro Police, stating ‘there can be some functions that can be given to them to free policemen to focus on specialised investigations’ given SAPS resource constraints.
‘We deeply appreciate and welcome the Commissioner’s support for more policing powers for our Metro police. This is exactly what we’ve been calling for and arguing for, and we feel strongly that this will make a positive difference to safety in Cape Town and South Africa.
‘Crime investigation powers are especially important to help SAPS and the NPA get more convictions for gang, gun, and drug crime. Our officers take more than 400 illegal guns off the streets annually, but the conviction rate is just 5% in these cases due to a broken criminal justice system.
‘But unfortunately, political will to expand policing powers for Metro Police remains a major obstacle. That’s why we welcome voices such as the Commissioner’s, and hope he is heard at the highest levels of national government,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, said this was a significant endorsement from one of the country’s most senior police officials.
‘We are delighted to hear Commissioner Patekile’s comments, which are a sign of the value our officers have already been able to offer SAPS.
‘International best practice generally places policing powers at regional and local level, closer to communities and local crime trends, with the exception of certain national agencies like the Hawks that need to operate across provincial borders.
‘Our Public Safety Training College already incorporates skills, such as statement writing and evidence handling in preparation for more policing powers. Today, we have more than 6 000 members, ready to take on the mission of no longer just making arrests. Catch and release needs to stop. We can be partners. We are ready,’ said Alderman Smith.
