Question NW420 to the Minister of Police

Reply:

(1)(a&b) According to actual deployment in terms of the Fixed Establishment, the total members deployed at Sebenza Police Station is 87, of which, 42 are Visible Policing members. A breakdown of these members is as follows:

• 26 members conduct patrols in the sectors (two shifts with six members and two shifts with seven members);
• Four Sector managers;
• Eight members deployed in the Community Service Centre (CSC);
• Two Firearm, Liquor and Second Hand Goods (FLASH) members;
• One Fleet Manager; and
• One Visible Policing support member.

(2)(a) The minimum requirements for the number of posts for visible policing at any police station is as follows:

Division Visible Policing has the following sub-sections and the minimum requirements will be discussed below:-

• CSC: Shift A, Shift B; Shift C; Shift D; (Personnel at CSC)
• Satellites & Contact Points;
• Sector Policing (Shift A, B, C & D)
• Custody Management; and
• Operational Support

Eighty per cent of the calculated theoretical number of posts is allocated for Visible Policing. Visible Policing has:

• Shift A, B, C and D:

A minimum of 17 posts will be allocated for CSC activities to ensure that a 24-hour service is rendered. This minimum requirement will be applicable to all stations.

• At satellite police stations:

24 hours – fixed standard of 18 posts;

12/8 hours –fixed standard of 10 posts; and

Only weekdays/office hours – fixed standard of four posts.

• Contact points:

24 hours – fixed standard of eight posts;

12/8 hours –fixed standard of four posts; and

Only weekdays/office hours – fixed standard of two posts.

• Sector Policing (Shift A, B, C & D) & Crime Prevention

A minimum requirement of a sector commander and 16 posts (two vehicles per shift) was applied, although this will increase resource requirements significantly. The calculated theoretical number of posts required for sector policing is divided by 17 to determine the optimal number of sectors allocated per station. 80% of the theoretical posts will be allocated to sector teams and 20% to crime prevention.

• Custody Management;

A minimum of 17 posts will be allocated for custody management activities to ensure that a 24-hour service is rendered only for stations with detention facilities.

• Operational Support – The following sub-sections form part of this section:

*Court Services, Firearms, Liquor and Second-Hand Goods (FLASH), Exhibit Management, General Enquiries, and Sector Managers.

Court - The number of calculated theoretical posts for Court Services will only be applicable at stations with full-time courts. The minimum criteria is two posts per active court room and two posts per cell complex. However, an adequate allocation has already been made at the CSC to provide for the transporting of detainees and temporary court duties at stations without full-time courts.

FLASH - The number of calculated theoretical posts are associated with the specified functions and the workload. A fixed allocation per station is not done.

Exhibit Management - The number of calculated theoretical posts are associated with the specified functions and the workload. A fixed allocation per station is not done.

General Enquiries - The number of calculated theoretical posts are associated with the specified functions and the workload. A fixed allocation per station is not done.

Sector Managers – one sector manager per sector.

(2)(b) Staffing requirements are managed on a continuous basis, through monthly Human Resource Committee meetings. Personnel shortages are identified in line with the approved Fixed Establishment and the actual staff establishment in a Province. All vacancies are identified and submitted for advertisement through various projects, which are facilitated by the Division: Personnel Management.