The Democratic Alliance has called on Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula to take urgent steps to end the escapes from custody of awaiting-trial prisoners.
Resources invested in investigating and arresting alleged criminals would be wasted if they escaped before standing trial, DA MP Roy Jankielsohn said in a statement on Thursday.
”The frequency of escapes indicates that police officers are not adequately trained to deal with awaiting-trial prisoners.
”The minister… must end his silence on the issue of escapes by releasing updated statistics on escapes, and announce what his plans are to deal with the situation.”
Jankielsohn said 3 260 suspects escaped from police custody between April 2002 and March 2003.
”Fewer than 40% of these were re-arrested. Escapees are not only a danger to the community, but also to police officers.”
His statement came after the recent escape from police cells of an alleged serial rapist from the West Rand, and two armed-robbery suspects.
The rapist is accused of 10 rapes, and was allegedly involved in many more such offences on the West Rand, he said.
”It is unacceptable that three suspects held for such serious offences are able to escape through the roof of their cell.”
It was clear holding cells at police stations had to be secured, and effective custody management training needed to be carried out, Jankielsohn said. – Sapa