Auditor General (AG) Terence Nombembe will conduct an audit next year to assess station-level performance within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The special audit will examine, among others, uneven service delivery at station-level across the country, which affects the way that are opened and recorded, and crime statistics compiled.
Staff vacancies, complaints laid against police, human-resource management efficiency, disciplinary action taken against members, dealing with members of the public, skills and capacity levels of all staff and assessment of stations by the local community-policing forums will also be examined.
Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson Dianne Kohler-Barnard said on Wednesday the DA was delighted with the AG’s decision as the party had asked him in July for such an audit.
He had now verbally confirmed the audit for May 2008.
An independent audit of a sample of police stations would verify personnel, equipment, training and supervision, as well as processes such as the accurate processing and reporting of crime information, she said.
”The audit will allow us to develop an accurate picture of the situation on the ground.”
This was particularly necessary in light of the fact that the SAPS 2006/07 annual report indicated a lack of monitoring of non-compliance with ”policies, procedures and standing instructions” and SAPS inventory differences to the value of R18,7-million, while six provinces failed to maintain firearm registers properly and the required firearms inspections were not always performed.
”Such an audit will also address public concerns about victims being turned away at stations, vehicle and bullet-proof vest shortages, equipment failure and lack of proper supervision in the field, among others.
”This will also put to rest the urban legend that crime statistics are being manipulated at station level, thereby skewing national results, or will alternatively prove that this is no legend at all,” Kohler-Barnard said. — Sapa