MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Last week the Mossel Bay Advertiser published an article on domestic violence in Mossel Bay.
In the article were claims made by clients of Creating Effective Families (CEF) women's shelter that police are unhelpful and unwilling to arrest abusers when called to the scene of an incident.
The Advertiser asked Southern Cape SAPS spokesperson Malcolm Pojie for comment and received the following statement:
"We are subject to the conditions or requirements stipulated in the Criminal Procedure Act as well as the Domestic Violence Act.
"The latter gives police officials the right to arrest perpetrators of domestic violence without a warrant of arrest should the circumstances require such action, such as when the victim's life is in imminent danger and there are signs of violence. However, the discretion to arrest rests on the official who intervened or attends to such a complaint.
"Each of these domestic violence complaints have to be treated with the necessary professionalism, respect and dignity as enshrined in our constitution and code of conduct.
"Should police members disregard the conditions regarding the execution of their mandate, such members can be charged departmentally in terms of our disciplinary regulations and processes.
"All stations in the Western Cape are equipped with a victim-friendly facility (trauma rooms), manned with domestic violence coordinators and volunteers to assist victims of gender-based violence as well as domestic violence cases.
"KwaNonqaba Police Station recently made use of the services of CEF facilitators with whom we have a sound relationship. Furthermore, our members are constantly updated on developments regarding the Domestic Violence Act and refresher courses are conducted on a regular basis to enable our members to execute their duties effectively.
"Each station has a domestic violence officer to constantly assess the service rendered by our members and also consult with victims to determine whether services rendered were done in a professional manner as prescribed.
"We have always maintained an excellent relationship with service providers and counterparts, such as CEF, and will continue to do so.
"They and/or anyone else, is welcome to visit the nearest police station to lodge concerns regarding the execution of our duties. Our doors are always open."
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