POLICE CRIMES
In the ten years from 1973–1982 police shot and killed 1,611 people in South Africa. During the same period 4,466 people were shot and wounded. These figures do not include those killed and wounded in the nationwide uprisings in 1976. The numbers refer to those killed and wounded by the police 'during the execution of their duties.'
The majority of those shot were said to have been shot for resisting or escaping from arrest. One hundred and twenty eight of the 188 people killed in 1982 were shot for this reason. The other 60 deaths were said to have been the result of shootouts, 'terrorists' being shot and killed, attacks on the police, shootings during 'riot' situations, and people being 'shot in cross-fire'.
The circumstances under which a police officer may shoot to kill are set out in the 'Police Standing Orders' which is a secret code of conduct issued to every police officer. With reference to the use of force in effecting arrest, the 'Standing Orders' are bound by section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1977. In short, the section states that if anyone resists or cannot be arrested without force, or flees when an attempted arrest is made, an authorized person may 'use such force as may in the circumstances be reasonably necessary'.
POLICE STRENGTH GROWING
For the first time in several years the size of the South African Police Force has increased substantially.
In the annual report of the Commissioner of Police it was reported that at the end of June 1982 there were 3,000 more police personnel than the year before. This represented an increase of nearly nine per cent.
The report states that the actual establishment at 30 June 1982 was 37,126 while there were 44,000 authorised posts. This means that there was a shortfall of 6,874 police. The force is made up of 18,302 white and 18,824 black members. These figures do not include the Police Reserve (ex-members) — 18,000, and the Reserve Police (volunteers) — 25,000.
NEW POLICE POWERS
A Police Amendment Bill is being debated in parliament which will give the police the right to search, without warrant, any vehicle at a roadblock set up anywhere in the country. At present the police only have this authority to search a vehicle within 10 kilometres of the border.
The powers conferred by this amendment will give the police absolute powers of search unlimited by any circumstances contemplated by any law at all. The police would be rendered unaccountable to the courts and would hold absolute powers over road users.
In justifying the new measures, the Minister of Law and Order (Police) disclosed that in 1982 more than 600,000 manhours were spent at roadblocks and almost 72,000 police were involved. About 3,700 people had been arrested for serious offences at roadblocks. He claimed large quantities of arms, ammunition and explosives had been seized.
