Use your tools, cops told

29th August, 2010

National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele has urged police officers "to use the tools" they are given to protect themselves in the line of duty.

Addressing police officers at the Western Cape Prestige Awards on Friday night, Cele said that so far this year more officers had died in the line of duty than during 2009, when more than 100 officers were killed on duty.

Cele said the most recent incident was on Friday, when a policeman lost his life while pursuing four armed robbers in the Eastern Cape.

"He was shot by criminals and killed."

He said police had responded to a call that "criminals were waiting for the owner of garage to come to pay his workers? Two of the (suspected) robbers were shot and killed and two arrested.

The police chief told officers not to hesitate to protect themselves.

"Don't lose your life in the execution of your duties, we give you tools not to lose your life. If somebody makes your life difficult to such an extent that you might lose your life, or somebody who is innocent loses his or her life? the law agrees with you.

"Section 49 says the South African Police need to use minimum force to be able to arrest the person suspected of committing a crime, but if you are doing your duty and somebody puts your life or (that of) any innocent person in danger, the law says use a deadly force."

If officers heard somebody cock a gun and if "his life depends on his finger", then the officers should not hesitate to defend themselves.

Cele, however, cautioned against being trigger-happy.

"Don't shoot people because they have taken your girlfriend, don't use guns against your wives, girlfriends or boyfriends and husbands."

Cele is expected to release the latest police death statistics at a ceremony for slain police next Sunday.

Source : IOL