The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) on Friday welcomed the government’s view of a single police force in South Africa.
On Wednesday, Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula said the African National Congress is considering forming a single police force under one command.
A single police force would see the Scorpions, which have been at conflict with the police over jurisdiction, and metro police integrated into a single police unit.
”The Scorpions are mislocated at the moment. We believe they belong in the police,” said Pat Ntsobi, Popcru’s spokesperson.
”The integration of the Scorpions into the police is a constitutional imperative,” he said.
The different units have led to salary disparities among the police and investigators from the Scorpions.
”Popcru was heartened by the high prospects of having a single police force under one command.
”We actually think that the sentiments expressed by the minister of safety and security suggest that there is a political will by government to unite these agencies, which are operating separately under the present system.
”We are glad that the minister agrees with us that the Balkanisation of the policing fraternity is just not functional,” Ntsobi said.
He said Popcru has already made submissions to Judge Sisi Khampepe, who is investigating whether the Scorpions should be located into the police. — Sapa