‘To serve and protect,’ a simple, straight-forward yet meaningful motto adopted by many police forces around the world seems to have lost its significance with certain members of the Durban Metro Police.

The fact that this ‘bully policewoman’ - with other Metro Police colleagues - enacted such unethical and unacceptable behaviour towards a prosecutor heightens the sense of hopelessness that ordinary citizens feel due to their experience of similar encounters.

Often, such encounters are not taken to task with the authorities as the public not only believes that it would be futile but also that it might result in further intimidation.

The relevant authorities have an absolute responsibility to the public and must be seen to address this impunity by not only weeding out such personnel but also putting in place a public relations exercise that it is serious that the Metro Police ‘will serve and protect.’

Darul Ihsan Media Desk