May 2000 Volume 81 Number 5 "serving the protectors"
By Mark Carroll PASA Assistant Secretary

SAPOL Promotional Qualifications Review

The Police Gazette of March 22, 2000 provided a supplement explaining the proposed promotional qualification review for future training, education and promotion in SAPOL. As a result, PASA has received many queries from members exasperated by another change to the promotional system. (This is the third change in my 15 years!) Without debating the pros or cons in this column, members should take note that this gazette supplement has been published for all interested members to provide feedback over a three-month consultation period. Further, during consultation, SAPOL has stated that representatives from the police academy will visit work locations and give members the opportunity to discuss this proposal with them.

It may be easy to take a negative stance relative to this consultation period, but I would urge members not to. PASA encourages members to be involved in this process and make their thoughts (positive and negative) known. Members may also choose to forward them to PASA, which will be making a submission relative to this new system.

Premier’s Task Force

(written mid-April)

The Police Association’s position and rationale relative to staffing levels in SAPOL - as presented to the Premier’s Task Force in December 1999 - is:

1. There is an urgent need to recruit against natural attrition and for a commitment from government to maintain that recruitment. The association supports the Premier’s Task Force recommendations for immediate recruitment. Notwithstanding this support, the association believes that government should determine policy immediately to allow for the recruitment of personnel to staff drug and other crime-support service programmes.
   
   
2. There is an urgent need for a designated relief pool within SAPOL to backfill long-term absences.
   
   
3. Police roles and functions that have been civilianised over the last five to 10 years have not resulted in any increase in police strength. To the contrary, each civilianized position has resulted in the loss of a police position. Civilianization should not result in the loss of sworn positions.
   
   
4. The current ability of the force to police pro-actively is undermined by a lack of staff. An appropriate balance between pro-active and reactive policing will not be achieved without this level of recruitment.
   
   
5. There needs to be an immediate analysis of current workload with a view to introducing and maintaining minimum staffing levels.
   
   
6. There needs to be recognition that the current staffing levels are unable to support any additional initiatives or operations without having a detrimental effect across the organization.

The issue of staffing is before the Premier and Cabinet. A decision is expected shortly. PASA will advise of details as they come to hand.

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