SA Police to roll out organisational reforms next month

FRONT counter services at police stations will not be affected by organisational reforms to be rolled out next month, SA Police says.

A new policing model will be rolled out next month.

FRONT counter services at police stations will not be affected by organisational reforms to be rolled out next month, SA Police says.

The organisation has announced the force will cut the number of metropolitan policing districts from six to four on July 5.

The change will create Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western districts.

SA Police says the new policing model would allow for “larger, more flexible working groups” with police who attend calls from the public to be guided by centralised management teams.

Assistant Commissioner Noel Bamford said the initiative was being rolled out after “extensive research, review and consultation with SA Police staff”.

“It will strengthen the number of frontline staff on the road while best utilising the experience of senior officers to provide guidance to them in a centralised fashion,” he said.

“In recent years we have introduced body worn video, mobile office technology, mobile finger print scanners, facial recognition technology and smart phones which have changed the nature of policing.

“Coupled with changes in how the community behaves, such as the vast majority now contacting police via a smart phone and using online reporting, these changes put trained police officers where they are most needed.”

Police Association of SA president Mark Carroll said the union would monitor the effects of the new model.

“The success of the model will hinge on a well-resourced police force, especially in the area of first-response patrols,” he said.

“This is one of the reasons the Police Association pushed so hard to ensure the previous government delivered an extra 313 police officers by mid-2018.

“In the meantime, we’ll continue to monitor the progress of the implementation and listen to member feedback, especially in relation to staffing issues.”

SA Police advises the changes would have “no direct impact on the public who may be seeking services at police stations, with front counter services remaining unchanged and opening hours not altering”.