Deputy Speaker, hon Minister, the ACDP will support this Bill. The Bill is a response to the question "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" Who guards the guards? Section 206(6) of the Constitution provides for the establishment of an independent police investigative directorate to guard the guards by investigating any alleged misconduct or offence committed by a member of the Police Service.
There is clearly a need for a more effective, well-resourced and independent investigative directorate, particularly if one has regard to the wide powers enjoyed by members of the Police Service, including the right to use deadly force under certain circumstances. One only has to be reminded of the controversies surrounding the blue-light brigades as well as allegations of uniformed members committing crimes, including rape and torture, to appreciate the need for this much-improved directorate.
The ACDP welcomes the fact that this directorate will operate independently of the Police Service, with a separate budget. The thrust of the directorate's work will be to address systemic problems within the Police Service. The directorate will be able to investigate a number of offences, including deaths in police custody, deaths as a result of police action, rapes by police officers - whether on or off duty - complaints of torture and corruption matters within the police.
We as the ACDP trust that the work of the directorate will contribute to ensuring that the Police Service becomes a far more professional service that operates within the boundaries and norms of the Constitution.
However, in order for this directorate to operate effectively, it requires sufficient investigators and resources. Without the necessary teeth, this Bill will be aimless. The ACDP will thus closely monitor the implementation plan for this Bill. I thank you.