PRESENTATION ON BATHO PRESENTATION ON BATHO PELE PROJECTSPELE PROJECTS

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, SEURITY AND LIAISONSAFETY, SEURITY AND LIAISON

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

ll The department, unlike some other The department, unlike some other departments, renders services but does not departments, renders services but does not collect any revenue;collect any revenue;

ll It is charged with civilian oversight and It is charged with civilian oversight and monitoring functions over the South African monitoring functions over the South African Police Service and to promote good relations Police Service and to promote good relations between the SAPS and communities;between the SAPS and communities;

ll This mandate derives from the Constitution (Act This mandate derives from the Constitution (Act 108 of 1996), the SAPS (Act 68 of 1995), the 108 of 1996), the SAPS (Act 68 of 1995), the National Crime Prevention Strategy and the National Crime Prevention Strategy and the White Paper on Safety and Security. White Paper on Safety and Security.

Background …….(cont)Background …….(cont)

ll The department are thus focusing on the The department are thus focusing on the following:following:ll establishing and maintenance of community establishing and maintenance of community

policing structures;policing structures;ll oversee the SAPS service delivery and oversee the SAPS service delivery and

investigation of complaints against the Service investigation of complaints against the Service or individual members;or individual members;

ll To promote good relations between To promote good relations between communities and the SAPS at Local level communities and the SAPS at Local level

Batho Pele linked ProjectsBatho Pele linked Projects

ll Most of the projects from the department is Most of the projects from the department is based on the human element and thus focus on based on the human element and thus focus on community mobilization, creation of solid community mobilization, creation of solid partnerships and satisfaction to clients.partnerships and satisfaction to clients.

ll These initiatives centers around the Batho Pele These initiatives centers around the Batho Pele with emphasis on transparency, accessibility, with emphasis on transparency, accessibility, information, redress and customer satisfaction information, redress and customer satisfaction with basis on standards. with basis on standards.

Complaints TollComplaints Toll--free line and free line and Suggestion BoxesSuggestion Boxes--Description Description

ll The department installed a tollThe department installed a toll--free line of which all free line of which all costs are paid from the department and widely costs are paid from the department and widely publicized the 0800 72 73 74. Any community member, publicized the 0800 72 73 74. Any community member, wherever in the Province, can make a call at any time wherever in the Province, can make a call at any time with a complaint. This line is linked to a “call center” with a complaint. This line is linked to a “call center” manned by two operators during office hours and manned by two operators during office hours and diverted to an electronic answering machine after hours.diverted to an electronic answering machine after hours.

ll The complaints infrastructure were expanded by putting The complaints infrastructure were expanded by putting one suggestion box at each police station in the one suggestion box at each police station in the Province, for those persons who wish to write down their Province, for those persons who wish to write down their complaints. Contents of boxes are gathered by complaints. Contents of boxes are gathered by departmental officials on regular basis. departmental officials on regular basis.

Complaint TollComplaint Toll--free line and free line and Suggestion Boxes Suggestion Boxes -- RationaleRationale

ll A need was identified to formalize the A need was identified to formalize the complaints registration infrastructure. This was complaints registration infrastructure. This was dictated firstly by the lack of internal systems to dictated firstly by the lack of internal systems to properly register the huge influx of complaints properly register the huge influx of complaints and monitor the way in which complaints are and monitor the way in which complaints are handled. Secondly, problems were experienced handled. Secondly, problems were experienced since complainants had to either travel long since complainants had to either travel long distances to the department whilst not having distances to the department whilst not having money for public transport, for stationary to money for public transport, for stationary to write or to make a long distance call.write or to make a long distance call.

TollToll--free line and Suggestion Boxes free line and Suggestion Boxes --AchievementsAchievements

ll Complaints are now registered both electronically and Complaints are now registered both electronically and manually. manually.

ll More complaints is registered and are there more More complaints is registered and are there more satisfaction to the process.satisfaction to the process.

ll Registrations must take place within a specified period Registrations must take place within a specified period after which a complaint is referred for investigation.after which a complaint is referred for investigation.

ll Investigations are done transparently and is Investigations are done transparently and is complainants kept updated on regular basis. Electronic complainants kept updated on regular basis. Electronic systems are in place where supervisor(s) can follow systems are in place where supervisor(s) can follow investigations from start to end without physical investigations from start to end without physical consultation with an investigator (management tool) consultation with an investigator (management tool)

TollToll--free line and Suggestion Boxes free line and Suggestion Boxes ––Achievements…(cont)Achievements…(cont)

ll The suggestion boxes also create more The suggestion boxes also create more opportunities for registrations and took opportunities for registrations and took some of the pressure from the costs of the some of the pressure from the costs of the TollToll--free line.free line.

Challenges and Lessons learntChallenges and Lessons learnt

ll To make the tollTo make the toll--free line 24free line 24--hour hour operational;operational;

ll To get operators who can speak all official To get operators who can speak all official languages in the Province;languages in the Province;

ll Communities are coming forward with Communities are coming forward with more serious complaints and is it crucial to more serious complaints and is it crucial to maintain marketing of the initiatives. maintain marketing of the initiatives.

Awareness on Community Policing Awareness on Community Policing and Community Police Forumsand Community Police Forums

ll The project was aimed at mobilizing community The project was aimed at mobilizing community members to join hands with the SAPS in the fight against members to join hands with the SAPS in the fight against crime. Although this new approach were already crime. Although this new approach were already introduced since 1995/6, communities remained skeptic introduced since 1995/6, communities remained skeptic in involving themselves in CPFs.in involving themselves in CPFs.

ll This nonThis non--involvement were emphasized by a community involvement were emphasized by a community perception survey which was conducted by the perception survey which was conducted by the department on issues relating to policing in the Province.department on issues relating to policing in the Province.

ll Lack of commitment of communities in CPFs impact on Lack of commitment of communities in CPFs impact on the existence of these structures and is the department the existence of these structures and is the department continuously focusing on sustaining and maintaining continuously focusing on sustaining and maintaining these structures.these structures.

Rationale and Objectives of ProjectRationale and Objectives of Project

ll As the main custodian of community policing, As the main custodian of community policing, the department identified the need to vigorously the department identified the need to vigorously reach out to communities by means of physical reach out to communities by means of physical doordoor--toto--door campaigns.door campaigns.

ll This was to inform communities of the This was to inform communities of the advantages of community policing and the advantages of community policing and the importance of their involvement in CPFs and in importance of their involvement in CPFs and in crime prevention projects and programmes.crime prevention projects and programmes.

ll Certain towns were identified and doorCertain towns were identified and door--toto--doors doors conducted in specific sectors which are plagued conducted in specific sectors which are plagued by crime. by crime.

Achievements Achievements

ll Targeted community members in districts has been Targeted community members in districts has been reached and negative perceptions addressed. reached and negative perceptions addressed. Promotional material like flyers and booklets were Promotional material like flyers and booklets were distributed. Booklets contained selfdistributed. Booklets contained self--addressed post card addressed post card and was many of these returned with suggestion or and was many of these returned with suggestion or specific problems around the CPF structures. specific problems around the CPF structures.

ll These campaigns were followed by a one day rally These campaigns were followed by a one day rally where the MEC, SAPS Provincial and Area Management, where the MEC, SAPS Provincial and Area Management, ICD, District and Local Councilors were involved to ICD, District and Local Councilors were involved to address communities on their important role in fighting address communities on their important role in fighting crime. Communities from neighbouring towns were crime. Communities from neighbouring towns were bussed to identified venues to be part of the rallies. bussed to identified venues to be part of the rallies.

Challenges Challenges

ll The department wish to reach out to all The department wish to reach out to all towns but due to time and budgetary towns but due to time and budgetary constraints are not able to do so.constraints are not able to do so.

ll The department will identify one town The department will identify one town from each of the remaining municipal from each of the remaining municipal districts to sustain the initiatives. districts to sustain the initiatives.

ll CPFs will continue to conduct at own time CPFs will continue to conduct at own time doordoor--toto--doorsdoors

Lessons learntLessons learnt

ll By reaching out to communities in this By reaching out to communities in this way, the department made bigger impact way, the department made bigger impact in educating communities on Community in educating communities on Community policing.policing.

ll Perceptions can be changed when people Perceptions can be changed when people are empowered with first hand are empowered with first hand information. information.

Training of CPF members in Training of CPF members in Community PolicingCommunity Policing

ll The CPF structures are functioning on certain principles The CPF structures are functioning on certain principles and is mainly representative from community members. and is mainly representative from community members.

ll Membership changes on a regular basis and is it Membership changes on a regular basis and is it necessary to conduct ongoing training to ensure that necessary to conduct ongoing training to ensure that members are capacitated to discharge their duties, to members are capacitated to discharge their duties, to continuously engage communities and lead in identifying continuously engage communities and lead in identifying crime prevention projects and programmes.crime prevention projects and programmes.

ll The department must thus ensure that these structures The department must thus ensure that these structures are capacitated and properly represented when dealing are capacitated and properly represented when dealing with the SAPS at local level.with the SAPS at local level.

ll The department, together with the SAPS are The department, together with the SAPS are constitutionally and legally mandated to establish and constitutionally and legally mandated to establish and sustain CPFs to promote good relations between SAPS sustain CPFs to promote good relations between SAPS and the communities.and the communities.

Rationale and Objectives Rationale and Objectives

ll The project is aimed at the continuous The project is aimed at the continuous empowerment of CPF members to sustain the empowerment of CPF members to sustain the structures and to properly consult with the structures and to properly consult with the SAPS.SAPS.

ll As a measure to safe costs, the department As a measure to safe costs, the department deviated from appointing a consultant to deviated from appointing a consultant to conduct training and trained internal officials conduct training and trained internal officials who are currently rollingwho are currently rolling--out training in the out training in the province.province.

ll Members are trained to raise the standard of Members are trained to raise the standard of services and on maintenance of administrative services and on maintenance of administrative and accounting systems. and accounting systems.

AchievementsAchievements

ll Currently the training to 432 CPF Currently the training to 432 CPF executive members are 80% completed executive members are 80% completed and will the training be finalized by end and will the training be finalized by end November 2004.November 2004.

ll Costs were saved in using internal staffCosts were saved in using internal staff--members versus outsourcing the training. members versus outsourcing the training.

ll Staff are also empowered to deal with CPF Staff are also empowered to deal with CPF structures first hand.structures first hand.

Challenges Challenges

ll The department will have to service the The department will have to service the CPFs on an ongoing basis.CPFs on an ongoing basis.

ll Training needs to be sustained and reTraining needs to be sustained and re--fresher courses need to be identified fresher courses need to be identified

ll Monitoring and assessment systems needs Monitoring and assessment systems needs to be put in place to ensure trainees to be put in place to ensure trainees implement their new found knowledge to implement their new found knowledge to the advancement of CPF structuresthe advancement of CPF structures

Lessons learntLessons learnt

ll CPFs needs to be empowered to take CPFs needs to be empowered to take charged of their roles and responsibilitiescharged of their roles and responsibilities

ll Better to invest in staff before spending Better to invest in staff before spending money on consultants. Costs have been money on consultants. Costs have been cut to a third of what was budgeted for.cut to a third of what was budgeted for.

ll Training ensure capacitated structures to Training ensure capacitated structures to mobilize communities and to serve them mobilize communities and to serve them properly. properly.

Victim Empowerment FacilitiesVictim Empowerment Facilities

ll The department started to rollThe department started to roll--out victim Support Rooms out victim Support Rooms (in the form of Wendy houses) at 21 Police stations in (in the form of Wendy houses) at 21 Police stations in the Province;the Province;

ll These facilities are furnished and equipped with crime These facilities are furnished and equipped with crime kits and creates an environment for initial counseling kits and creates an environment for initial counseling and taking of statements in private;and taking of statements in private;

ll The facilities are aimed at empowering victims of sexual The facilities are aimed at empowering victims of sexual and domestic violence offences with main focus on and domestic violence offences with main focus on women and children;women and children;

ll Victim Support Rooms are meant as the first point of Victim Support Rooms are meant as the first point of intervention and if specialized counseling is required, the intervention and if specialized counseling is required, the victim is transferred to the Provincial Victim victim is transferred to the Provincial Victim Empowerment Center Empowerment Center

Challenges for Victim Support RoomsChallenges for Victim Support Rooms

ll The department selected 63 volunteers and trained them The department selected 63 volunteers and trained them in basic counseling techniques to render service in the in basic counseling techniques to render service in the VSRs;VSRs;

ll These volunteers does not get the cooperation of SAPS These volunteers does not get the cooperation of SAPS management at station level to and thus leaves the management at station level to and thus leaves the programme out of frustration;programme out of frustration;

ll SAPS management at local level does not refer victims to SAPS management at local level does not refer victims to the VSRs and thus constrain the effective utilization of the VSRs and thus constrain the effective utilization of these structures;these structures;

ll The department made an audit and realized that many The department made an audit and realized that many other issues impact on the functioning of the structures other issues impact on the functioning of the structures like problems with sanitation facilities, electrification, like problems with sanitation facilities, electrification, structures locked and keys held by SAPS members over structures locked and keys held by SAPS members over weekends weekends

Challenges ……….contChallenges ……….cont

ll The department undertook to rollThe department undertook to roll--out 21 more victim out 21 more victim support rooms but is the exercise very expensive and support rooms but is the exercise very expensive and will the additional VSRs be funded with donor funding will the additional VSRs be funded with donor funding from the Flanders Government;from the Flanders Government;

ll It is a struggle to access this funding since it is It is a struggle to access this funding since it is contained in another project which also aims to establish contained in another project which also aims to establish a second Provincial Victim Empowerment Center; a second Provincial Victim Empowerment Center; negotiations is currently underway to transfer the latter negotiations is currently underway to transfer the latter project to Department of Social Development; project to Department of Social Development;

ll Criminal Justice Partners like DSD, SAPS, Justice and Criminal Justice Partners like DSD, SAPS, Justice and Health are key roleHealth are key role--players in rendering a service to players in rendering a service to VSRs. Lists of contacts are available at police stations VSRs. Lists of contacts are available at police stations when when specilizedspecilized interventions is needed.interventions is needed.

Quality Improvement Measures Quality Improvement Measures (VSRs) (VSRs)

ll The department will facilitate redress of structural The department will facilitate redress of structural problems;problems;

ll A task team was established with SAPS to address lack A task team was established with SAPS to address lack of commitment;of commitment;

ll Protocols and checklists have been implemented at all Protocols and checklists have been implemented at all police stations for record and monitoring purposes;police stations for record and monitoring purposes;

ll New volunteers will be identified and trained and New volunteers will be identified and trained and previous volunteers will be subjected to refresher previous volunteers will be subjected to refresher courses.courses.

ll RollRoll--out of 21 additional VSRs speeded up for last out of 21 additional VSRs speeded up for last quarter of financial year or first quarter new financial quarter of financial year or first quarter new financial year.year.

THE ENDTHE END

THANK YOU THANK YOU