Police want former members back

POLICE are once again calling for former police members to join their ranks in an effort to bolster service delivery and overcome skills shortages.

Yesterday, acting commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane said the reason for the recruitment drive was to strengthen specialised branches such as detective, visible policing, K9, public order policing and support services.

This comes after a similar drive was held late last year and saw 3 152 applications, of which 529 applicants met the prescribed criteria.

“The huge number of applications received in comparison to the number of appointments is a clear indication that the process focuses on quality and not quantity,” Phahlane said.

Police spokesman Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the employment of trained and experienced former police officials also saved with the cost of training.

Of those recruited, ranging in rank from constable to colonel, 180 were deployed to the Detective Branch, 297 in Visible Policing and 52 in Support Services.

In last year’s drive, police stressed that only experienced members with exemplary track records would be enlisted.

The drive comes after many police officials withdrew from the service over the last two years.

In July last year, now suspended police commissioner General Rhiya Phiyega said about 7 000 police members had left the service over the previous financial year.