Action Society calls for urgent police reforms in response to Draft National Policing Policy

In a comprehensive submission to the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service, Action Society has highlighted pressing concerns and recommendations regarding the Draft National Policing Policy (NPP). The Constitution states that the Minister of Police must determine the National Policing Policy after consulting the provincial governments, considering the provinces’ local needs and priorities as determined by the regional executives. The public was invited to comment on the draft NPP.

Action Society’s submission focuses on critical aspects of the NPP:

1. The failure of SAPS in fulfilling its constitutional mandate to protect South Africans. Action Society highlights the disconcerting operational history and crime statistics over the past two decades, demonstrating SAPS’s failure to meet its constitutional mandate.
2. Criticism of the NPP for its symbolic nature and lack of concrete strategies to address corruption, mismanagement, bad leadership, and centralisation in policing functions. Words on paper do not protect South Africans, but better leadership and no corruption within SAPS will.
3. Action Society also advocates for the devolution of police to the provincial level as a solution for effective policing, emphasising community-centred policing and making a constitutional case for devolution.

“The National Policing Policy is critical to give direction in the fight against crime in South Africa,” says Ian Cameron, Director of Community Safety at Action Society. “However, it should be a practical and effective policy, not just a symbolic document. For it to truly be a tool to guide the police in its primary objective – fighting crime – the Civilian Secretariat for Police should urgently take note of Action Society’s calls for comprehensive reforms in the NPP to address the highlighted shortcomings. 

“Action Society is committed to advocating for policy change and holding the government accountable for safeguarding the citizens of South Africa, particularly focusing on the vulnerable segments of the population.”