Mistake to merge police forces: ISS

13 October 2009 - 09:25

Less serious offences and laws that deal with such crimes will be neglected if the Metro Police merges with the South African Police Service.

Johan Burger from the Institute for Security Studies has been sharing his view with Newswatch following the police department's announcement at the weekend. 

Government believes placing all law enforcement officers under one umbrella will enable them to focus on the fight against crime.

Burger's disagreed, saying Metro Police and SAPS have different priorities.

"The Metro Police Services were set up to provide a policing service at the level where the national police would normally not perform in terms of their priorities.

"The national police service have a responsibility to prioritise the more serious crimes. Crime prevention - which includes the visible policing - is the responsibility of the Metropolitan police service, though the national police also retain responsibility for crime prevention."

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