Finally – something proactive is being done to ‘weed out’ corrupt cops.

There is no doubt that bribery and corruption at police stations is rife. I have always wondered why police stations can’t be monitored by cameras - just like post offices and luggage handling areas at airports.

However, according to the Independent on Saturday, Durban Metro Police Station has taken to using surveillance cameras to “weed out bad cops” and to clamp down on bribery and corruption.

The cameras - at "undisclosed" locations - will be monitored regularly and suspicious behaviour by police officers or members of the public will be investigated.

Durban Metro police spokesperson Thozamile Tyala said, "We have urged all our police officers to act lawfully and ethically at all times and not just because they know that the cameras are watching them.”

"This is all part of our plan for better service delivery in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup. We are working towards creating a more committed and dedicated team of police officers."

Apparently the cameras have been there for a while and were kept a “secret”, so that they wouldn’t alert those that would act in an unethical manner.

Does this mean that there could be other surveillance cameras in other stations?

I certainly hope so!

In another attempt by the SAPS to crack down on corruption and bribery, a Mpumalanga policeman has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars for stealing a piece of evidence from the Amersfoort police station.

According to News24, the sentence was imposed after the court found 32-year-old Constable Jabulani Shakwane guilty of stealing a truck tyre from a storeroom.
The tyre was going to be used as exhibit in an ongoing case and he sold it to someone for R500.

“It's not the first time that an exhibit was stolen from the station's storeroom and his conviction will serve as an example," said police spokesperson Superintendent Abie Khoabane on Wednesday.

Now, that is what I like to hear!

Corrupt cops beware!