Parliament, Wednesday, 20 September 2017 – Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police believes that the upcoming appointment of the new head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks) by the Minister of Police is an opportunity to ensure that the organisation is taken to the next level in the fight against organised crime.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Francois Beukman, said that the appointment should not be aimed solely at instilling confidence in the leadership of the DPCI at unit level, but also in the minds of society at large. “We need to ensure that the fight against serious crime is led by a well-qualified and experienced individual with the necessary skills and expertise to manage a complex and ever-evolving environment.”
Mr Beukman said the current spate of organised gang activities, fire-arm robberies, drug smuggling and commercial crime necessitates a new approach to dealing with organised crime in South Africa.
To this effect, the Portfolio Committee made four recommendations about the DPCI in a recent report following a study tour to the United Kingdom:
- Level of human and material capacity of the DPCI be increased to focus on the value chain of organised crime;
- Inter-agency cooperation between the DPCI and other international crime fighting agencies be strengthened;
- The DPCI invest sufficient efforts into the budget, training and maintenance of the digital and electronic support in investigations; and
- The DPCI strengthen cooperation with Interpol and other regional crime fighting institutions when it comes to fighting transnational crime.
Mr Beukman said that the implementation of the National Development Plan necessities the appointment of a police professional to the position of head of the DPCI, who will be able to give strategic direction to the DPCI and implement an integrated crime-solution approach based on internationally recognised best-practice. The Committee will monitor the implementation of its recommendations closely.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MR FRANCOIS BEUKMAN
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