New Action Society survey will show if South African drivers trust SAPS

Action Society has just launched a second survey – Do you stop for a cop? – as part of its police trust-indicator survey series, to determine to what extent South African road users trust the South African Police Service (SAPS) when they are pulled over, or when they have to stop at vehicle checkpoints and roadblocks.

Action Society has recently received increasing complaints regarding SAPS members not following protocol when stopping drivers. It is important that communities do not feel negatively intimidated by SAPS on our roads.

“We ask questions to clarify how civilians feel when pulled over by a member of SAPS, as well as how they experience the behaviour of the said SAPS members,” explained Rentia Mynhardt, spokesperson for Action Society.

The questions to complete are:

1. When you get pulled over by a member of SAPS, how do you feel?
2. When pulled over, how was the overall experience?
3. Did the SAPS member friendly introduce him/herself?
4. Has a member of SAPS ever asked you for a bribe?
5. Did the SAPS member explain why you were pulled over?
6. Were you able to clearly identify the person as a SAPS member?

Action Society has completed their first trust-indicator survey concerning the Police 10111 emergency service helpline which returned some dooming figures. Only 2% of South Africans will call 10111 first in an emergency. Private security (56,8%) and neighbourhood watch groups (40,7%) would much rather be called by most civilians looking for emergency assistance.

Various factors affect failing public confidence in SAPS: Non-responsiveness, corruption, the lack of accountability, ineffectiveness in handling crime, and a very big issue, namely the lack of ethical and competent leadership within SAPS.

“SAPS is an organisation whose core aim must be to serve and protect citizens, and currently they are failing miserably on various levels. Action Society will really appreciate your participation and therefore ask the public to make their voices heard by completing the short survey that will pop up when you open our website,” Mynhardt appealed.

Make your one-minute-contribution on actionsociety.co.za/do-you-stop-for-a-cop/.