Complaints arising from behaviour on Facebook, Twitter or other social media make up “at least half” of calls passed on to police officers in Britain.
Alex Marshall, head of the College of Policing, said the number of calls relating to social media represented “a real problem for people working on the frontline of policing”.
“Police officers can’t deal with every bit of nonsense or disagreement that occurs on social media,” he told BBC Radio.
Antisocial behaviour and threats of assault are among the most common allegations, said Marshall.
He claimed police training and enforcement by social media companies was needed to combat the problem. About 6000 officers are being trained to deal with online offences and identify when a pattern of behaviour requires further investigation.
“It won’t be long before pretty much every investigation that the police conduct will have an online element to it,” he said.
The director of public prosecutions has issued guidance to prosecutors to determine which cases should be treated as potentially criminal.
They are also advised to look out for messages that constitute a “credible threat of violence “. – Daily Telegraph
A Black South African Navy chef has taken a Cape Town police officer to the Equality Court following a racial altercation, The Times reported on Wednesday.
Phila Mnyanda claimed Sergeant Zelda Bussey, who arrested him for suspected drunk driving in 2011, called him a “kaffir”, according to the report.
The coloured sergeant also allegedly injured him while he was transported in the back of a police van to the district surgeon to have his blood drawn.
In court papers, Mnyanda reportedly said: “(Bussey) told her colleague: “This kaffir thinks he’s clever. I’ll sort him out”[Die kaffir dink hy is slim. Ek sal hom uit sort].
“In addition, I sustained physical injuries to my person as a result of the respondent’s negligent driving of the SAPS vehicle while I was in the back thereof.”
Mnyanda was suing Bussey and demanding an apology. The case was postponed.
On Thursday, 12 June 2014 members of the K9 Unit and Sydenham Police Station arrested three suspects aged between 18 and 20 for attempted murder, hijacking and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. It is alleged that the female victim was earlier hijacked of her grey Volvo motor vehicle. She was accosted by two suspects at gunpoint whilst seated in her car. They instructed her to move over and the suspect drove off with her in the vehicle. She was dropped off at Pineside Road in Pinetown and the suspects drove towards Clermont.
At about 20:00 police spotted the said hijacked vehicle at Roger Sishi Road in New Germany. The police officers activated their blue lights and ordered the suspects to stop. The suspects fired shots towards the police who returned fire. The suspects continued to flee until the driver of the hijacked vehicle allegedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a wall. Three suspects managed to flee on foot into the nearby bushes and were later arrested. Two other suspects were fatally wounded during the shootout. Two firearms were seized and will be sent for ballistics tests to ascertain if they were used in any other crime in the country. The arrested suspects will appear in the Pinetown Magistrates Court soon on charges of attempted murder, hijacking and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the members for the good work that led to the recovering of the hijacked vehicle and the arrest the suspects. “We would like to warn criminals that the police will not hesitate to retaliate when their lives are in danger. It is a common trend that police officers in this province are confronted with gunfire on a daily basis when they attempt to arrest criminals. We are fortunate that none of our police officers have become statistics especially over the past few weeks,” she said. – SA Police Media Service
A Johannesburg metro police officer has been arrested for rape, according to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
The black man, who is from Soweto, was supposed to have appeared before the Protea Magistrate’s Court in the black township yesterday, said IPID spokesman Moses Dlamini.
The officer was alleged to have raped the woman on Wednesday and was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning.
“It is alleged that on January 22 the complainant was at a friend’s place of residence. One of her friend’s friends arrived with the suspect [and] the suspect suggested that they go to his place of residence of which they did,” said Dlamini.
“It is alleged that after some time, the complainant’s friend left the complainant with the suspect. The suspect allegedly used drugs in front of the complainant. After which he raped her using a condom.”
The woman alleged that the metro officer then assaulted her and prevented her from leaving.
“He allegedly raped her several times.”
The woman fled the officer’s house when he fell asleep and alerted metro police who were in the vicinity.
“She took them to the scene and pointed out the suspect,” Dlamini continued.
Dundee police and Glencoe K9 members arrested four suspects for business robbery in the Dundee CBD and recovered firearms, stolen cash as well as the getaway vehicle in Newcastle. On 17 December 2013 at 09:15 employees of a retail clothing store were allegedly accosted at gunpoint by four armed unknown men who demanded cash and robbed them of an undisclosed amount of cash at gunpoint. The suspects fled in their getaway vehicle which was parked outside the store. No shots were fired and no person was injured during the robbery.
After an initial investigation police proceeded to Newcastle where they arrested four suspects between the ages of 30 and 48 and recovered some of the money that was allegedly stolen. Three firearms, two 9mm pistols and a revolver were seized and the motor vehicle that was allegedly used during the commission of crime was also seized. All four suspects will be charged for business robbery, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition as well as possession of suspected stolen property. They will appear in Dundee Magistrates Court soon. The firearms will be sent to ballistics to ascertain whether they were used in the commission of any other crime in the country.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the members for arresting theses criminals and for the seizure of illegal firearms. “We are committed to eradicating criminal activities in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and confident that the impact of these arrests will result in the reduction of the serious and violent crimes during the festive season,” she said. – SA Police media release
The North West police arrested a total of 814 suspects through various operations in the past seven days between 08 and 15 December 2013 for Contact related, Property related trio and other crimes that include 186 for Safer Festive Season Operation Duty Calls.
These include 6 for Murder, 16 for Rape, 144 for Assault GBH and Assault common, 14 for robbery Aggravating, 31 for house robbery, 37 for shop lifting, 24 for driving under the influence, 63 for Drug related and 28 undocumented persons.
The operation also led to the confiscation of 3 cell phones, 38 possessions for suspected stolen property and 43 for possession of illegal firearms.
In most of the cases, suspects have already appeared in various courts while others are expected to appear today, Tuesday 17 December 2013.
Attempted murder in Mmabatho
Police in Mmabatho are investigating a case of attempted murder after a 34 year- old victim was shot on his back and hand on Monday, 16 December 2013 at his place at Magogoe village near Mmabatho in Mahikeng at about 03:00.
It is alleged that the victim was asleep when he heard the door of his house being kicked open. He woke up and was shot. According to the information, the suspect took two cell phones and the motive of the shooting is unknown and the suspect is still at large. The victim is in a critical condition in hospital. – praag.org and SAPS media release
The South African Police Service in the Eastern Cape are working around the clock looking for two suspects involved in an attack on two police constables in Cofimvaba, late Wednesday afternoon.
Police Constable, Tandile Mlenga aged 35 and Student Constable Siviwe Majwede aged 23, stationed at Cofimvaba SAPS were on duty when they followed up information on a business robbery which took place at one of the businesses at about 15:30 yesterday. Upon searching for the suspects at a residential home in the Joe Slovo Informal Settlement, they were attacked by at least four unknown gun-men. Several shots were fired at them and Constable Mlenga died on the scene. Student Constable Majwede is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Two suspects, aged 30, have been arrested and will appear in the Cofimvaba Magistrates Court on charges of murder and attempted murder. Police are looking for two (2) more suspects.
Constable Mlenga leaves behind his mother and two minor children. He served in the SA Police Service for 9 years. – SA Police media release
On Sunday, 8 December 2013 at about 13:45, members of SAPS Camperdown received a report from a cash-in-transit driver waiting at a local supermarket in Camperdown that a suspicious black VW Polo sedan was following them. Police immediately responded and found the suspicious vehicle parked nearby. The members with the assistance of the SAPS Pietermaritzburg Flying Squad and SAPS Pietermaritzburg Organised Crime Unit circulated the vehicle and discovered that it was hijacked in the Ladysmith area in September 2013.
Three (3) male suspects, seated inside the vehicle, were immediately arrested. On searching the vehicle Police found an unlicensed 9mm CZ75 Pistol and 15 live rounds, believed to have been stolen in the Durban Central area March 2009. It is alleged employees in the cash-in-transit vehicle were on a routine collection from Cato Ridge area to Camperdown when they noticed the suspicious vehicle following them. They immediately stopped at the supermarket and contacted the Police. The suspects are aged between 30 and 40-years of age. One of them is believed to be a police constable from Beaufort West. They will make a court appearance in the Camperdown Magistrate’s Court shortly on charges of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. They will also be charged at Ladysmith for hijacking and in Durban for theft of a firearm. Investigations are continuing. – praag.org and SAPS media release
An intelligence driven joint operation by Pinetown Cluster and Pietermaritzburg Cluster Tactical Response Team members on Saturday, 30 November 20913 produced positive results. During their operations, four suspects aged 21 and 32 were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The suspects are due to appear today, 2 December 2013 in the Mpumalanga Magistrate’s Court for possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
It is alleged that three suspects were arrested while on their way from the funeral at Mophela area near Mpumalanga Township. Two pistols, a revolver and seven rounds of ammunition were seized from them. On a follow up information, the members proceeded to Mpumalanga Township where they found a fourth suspect in possession of an unlicensed pistol with two live rounds. He was also arrested and charged with possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Two of the recovered firearms were reported stolen in Durban area during December 2003 and August 2013. All recovered firearms will be sent for ballistic tests to determine whether they were used in any crime in the country. The suspects are due to appear in the Mpumalanga Magistrate’s Court today, Monday, 02 December 2013. – South African Police Service
Provincial commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, Lt General Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the arrest and the recovery of unlicensed firearms by the members. She appeals to the public to continue providing the police with any information about any criminal activities in their areas including illegal firearms. Anyone who wish to provide information can contact our crime stop number 08600 10111.
Today, the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thulani Ntobela expressed his disapproval of the barbaric incident of robbery at a church in Masoyi.
On Friday, 22 November 2013, members of a local church in Mganduzweni Trust in Masoyi near White River gathered for a night prayer.
Just before mid-night, they were accosted and attacked by a gang of four men armed with a pump action short gun. The men commanded the congregants to lie down and robbed them of their personal belongings.
The thugs took some members of the church who parked their cars outside and searched them. It is alleged that they further took other personal belongings, cash and raped a 21-year-old church member.
“This act of lawlessness is not approved and must be condemned”, said General Ntobela.
A call is hereby extended to community members to rally behind the police in their efforts to put the acts of these miscreants to a curl-de-sac.
“A church is a place of worship where congregants gather to pray and it should be respected but these villains had a different ideology.
We need to stop them before they ruthlessly attack other churches,” concluded General Ntobela. – SA Police Service
Police crime intelligence gathered information that protesting Marikana mineworkers had performed muti rituals and believed they were invincible before the August 16 shootings last year.
Brigadier Adriaan Calitz told the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Centurion on Tuesday that even though the strikers believed they were invincible police had to intervene to curb the violent strike.
“We had received intelligence that there was this story around the muti and these people believed that the police would not be able to do anything to them. They believed that their [police] weapons would not be able to do anything.
“The police are being subjected to such things on a daily basis, for example in the cash-in-transit robberies. People use muti and believe that nothing will happen to them. At the end of the day, we had to act,” he said.
Calitz was one of the police commanders assigned to the operation during the labour unrest at Lonmin’s platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg in North West last year.
He said the police had been threatened and told to leave the Marikana koppie (hill), where the strikers had gathered, six times in the hours before the shooting.
Ishmael Semenya, for the police, asked Calitz to explain whether police were sure that methods like verbal orders, use of stun grenades, water cannon, rubber bullets, and the display of force would not have caused the protesters to disperse from the koppie.
Calitz said: “From my own experience based on around 20 years in charge of the POP (public order policing), it is not the first time I was giving instructions for dispersal. These methods [the water cannon, stun grenades, and verbal orders] always work correctly.
“People [protesters] take the easiest way out to avoid being shot or being arrested.”
He rubbished claims that the mineworkers “misunderstood” the purpose of barbed wired, which led to the chaotic confrontation.
“It [the rolling out of barbed wire] was not misunderstood. The purpose of the barbed wire had been explained to them. It [the confrontation] was a deliberate action by protesters,” said Calitz.
On Monday, Calitz told the commission he was unaware that mineworkers “lying around” after the encounter with police were dead.
In a sworn statement submitted to the commission, Calitz testified that due to the noise around the koppie, he had not heard the police tactical response team (TRT) firing live ammunition at the strikers.
“I contacted Lt-Col [Solomon] Vermaak on radio and inquired from him why the TRT was not following our dispersal action. He said he would go and check and later reported that the TRT were at the kraal and there were bodies lying around,” said Calitz.
“I thought, given my experience and the absence of such a report to me, that the bodies referred to people who were injured by the dispersion action or lying down to be arrested.”
Calitz detailed how he instructed officers to pursue protesters who were escaping in the northern and western directions. He urged the officers to arrest the fleeing protesters.
“I gave clear instructions over the radio to the dispersion group [police officers] ‘do not shoot unless the target engages you’. I repeated the instruction to ensure that members understood me clearly,” said Calitz.
“The shooting I was referring to [meant the use of] rubber rounds and not sharp ammunition. They were to use rubber only as a last resort if the armed strikers approached them with dangerous weapons.”
The three-member commission led by retired judge Ian Farlam is holding public hearings. The other commissioners are senior advocates Bantubonke Tokota and Pingla Hemraj.
Thirty-four people, mostly striking miners, were shot dead on August 16, 2012, and 78 were wounded when police fired on them while trying to disperse and disarm a group which had gathered on a hill near Lonmin’s platinum mining operations.
In the preceding week, 10 people, including two policeman and two security guards, were killed near the mine.
President Jacob Zuma appointed the commission in August last year.
MK soldiers parading under images of Mandela and Mbeki
Attacking the police’s crime intelligence division threatens the country’s security, the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association said on Monday.
“The various allegations levelled at the leadership of crime intelligence division… and the clear turf battles seeming to be raging… is a threat to the security, peace and stability of our country,” MKMVA chairman Kebby Maphatsoe told reporters in Johannesburg.
He said generals and colonels who served in the apartheid-era security intelligence had retired at the dawn of democracy and established private intelligence institutions.
“These are trained people…. Those generals are paraded as experts on crime fighting and have the audacity to regularly bash the SA Police Service, especially its crime intelligence division.”
He said civil society had been against the establishment of a crime intelligence unit, and was intent on discrediting the police.
He singled out former crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli as an example of this.
“Civil society has been against him returning to perform his duty as a policeman. It is dangerous. We will wake up one morning to an uprising and question why did it go about without being detected.” – Sapa
A case of attempted murder is being investigated after multiple award winning singer Kuli Chana was shot and wounded by police on Monday, Gauteng police confirmed.
Police from Bedfordview were tracking kidnappers and mistook Chana’s luxury sedan to be that of the kidnappers, said spokesman Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini in a statement.
“It is alleged that as they [police] were trying to stop the vehicle, it drove away at a high speed, several shots were fired and the driver lost control… it was established that the driver had sustained gunshot wounds,” said Dlamini.
The incident took place at the Caltex garage along the N1 highway in Midrand.
A case of kidnapping was reported in Bedfordview and the kidnappers demanded a ransom from the victim’s family, Dlamini said.
“The family of the victim was instructed to drop the ransom money at the Caltex garage.”
Bedfordview police arrived at the garage and saw Chana’s vehicle, mistaking him for the kidnapper.
An internal investigation regarding the incident was being conducted, Dlamini said.
Chana, whose real name is Khulane Morule, was discharged from hospital but left shaken by the incident, his publicist Sheila Afari said.
“He is shaken by the shooting as it came out of nowhere and there was no warning from the police whatsoever. He is recovering at home.” – Sapa
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