SMART POLICING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS

THE ADVENT OF DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 1994 DEMANDED A FUNDAMENTAL REASSESSMENT AND TRANSFORMATION OF THE NATURE AND STYLE OF POLICING. THE CONSTITUION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA PRESCRIBES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL POICE SERVICE, WHICH IS REQUIRED TO BE REPRESENTATIVE, LEGITIMATE, IMPARTIAL, TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE. IN TERMS OF THE CONSTITUTION, THE POLICE SERVICE MUST UPHOLD AND PROTECT THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE, AND EXECUTE ITS MISSION IN CONSULTATION AND CO-OPERATION WITH COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR NEEDS. SMART POLICING WAS WRITTEN WITHIN THIS CONTEXT, AND SERVES AS A GUIDELINE FOR LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN SOUTH AFRICA ON HOW TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DELIVER. IT INCULDES CHAPTERS ON POLICIES GUIDING THE POLICE AND POLICING; LEGAL ASPECTS OF POLICING; THE NATIONAL PROSECUTING AUTHORITY AND THE INVESTIGATOR'S ROLE IN THE PROSECUTION PROCESS; POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS; CRIME PREVENTION AND PARTNERSH