Fifty-six percent of crime in the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) takes place in the licensing department, city traffic chief Chris Ngcobo told Parliament on Tuesday.
”This is where staff collaborate with criminals, especially with the licensing and delicensing of vehicles,” he told the provincial and local government committee.
Ngcobo said ”conduct unbecoming of an officer” is still the greatest complaint levelled against the department.
He said, however, that through a concerted effort to improve the conduct of officers, the department is handling fewer cases of corruption and bribery.
”The City of Jo’burg council conducts an annual citizens’ satisfaction survey to measure perceptions of service provided by the JMPD throughout the city.
”The 2004/05 annual citizens’ satisfaction survey report relating to JMPD service indicates the achievement of a 70% satisfaction rating,” he said.
Ngcobo said his department is currently preparing for the 2010 Soccer World Cup tournament, to be held in South Africa.
He said it has been decided to increase the K9 unit from 11 to 72 dogs to ensure effective monitoring and detection of explosives.
The equestrian unit will also be increased from 15 to 70 horses to ensure effective crowd control and a horse breeding programme has been initiated.
”Personnel will also be increased from 1 500 to 2 500 and we are expecting 1 000 volunteers to participate as traffic wardens and safety officers in buses,” Ngcobo told the committee. — Sapa