SA urged to 'reward a cop, report a cop'
7 September 2011
South Africans have been called on to help promote professional policing by joining a campaign to reward the country's best police officers while isolating those involved in misconduct and corruption.
The "Reward a cop, report a cop" campaign was launched by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) last week.
The ISS explained that the campaign aimed to mobilise civilians to become more active in reporting good and bad police behaviour in order to help shape a culture of police excellence.
'Strengthen the good, isolate the bad'
Gareth Newham, head of the institute's Crime and Justice Programme, said: "Visible public support will strengthen the individual position of good police officers within the SAPS and surrounding communities which will, in turn, assist in isolating those officers involved in corruption and misconduct."
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has thrown his weight behind the campaign, saying South Africans needed to support upstanding police officers and isolate the "rotten apples" who abused their position.
Speaking the launch, he said the campaign would provide South Africans with a platform to air their experiences with police officers, without focusing on only the bad.
"Understandably, members of the public often take the time to report complaints and negative experiences they have of the police, and we take these complaints and experiences very seriously," Mthethwa said.
"However, if we want to build the type of police officer who is professional and service-orientated, we also need to reward excellence and promote certain positive behaviour," he said, urging South Africans to recognise police officers who carried out their duties with honesty, dignity and respect.
How to 'reward, report'
Various communication channels are available with tips and information on how South Africans can "reward a cop, report a cop."
The public can visit www.issafrica.org/crimehub/, select "promote professional policing", then choose from a range of easy options.
By "Liking" the Facebook page, people can join a community forum to read and share stories and recent experiences of police service, good or bad. Information will be provided on how to become more active in communities and to support local police.
People can also follow Twitter @RewardaCop for the latest news on policing and crime with a focus on stories of excellent police service as well as cases of corruption.
Making sure it works
Mthethwa said his ministry not only supported the initiative, but pledge to work closely with it "in ensuring that the processes set up by the ISS are able to have the desired effect.
"Over the next few weeks, the Civilian Secretariat for Police will engage with both the SAPS and ISS to ensure that people using the processes set up by the ISS are able to effectively encourage hard-working officers."
Source: BuaNews
