Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety Minister Anroux Marais last month unveiled the Lawyers in Police Stations Project (LPSP), in partnership with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC).

The project pretty much does what it says on the label: It focuses on strengthening the technical capacity and skills of police officers by providing in-station legal mentorship and training, guidance on statement taking, as well as legal advice and community support.

The project involves placing a lawyer at a police station on a full-time basis for three years.

The overall objective is not to take over or interfere in police functions, but to strengthen the technical capacity and skills of station personnel and improve the quality of policing.

“This initiative recognises a fundamental reality – effective policing begins at police-station level,” said Winde at the launch.

“Far too many police stations across the Western Cape and the country are facing serious resourcing constraints, which often impact service delivery.

“While we continue to call for more equitable resources for law enforcement in the Western Cape to bolster our fight against crime, we have also sought out other innovative solutions and partnerships aimed at improving various aspects of policing.

“We must do everything we can to help the SAPS and the criminal justice system.”

“This initiative is a fruitful engagement to assist police and benefit the community,” noted Major-General Michael Jojo.

The LPSP was piloted at Grassy Park SAPS in March last year, following the identification of the precinct as an area carrying a high burden of serious and organised crime.

Following an independent evaluation, which showed the programme had resulted in improved investigative processes, it has now been expanded to the Mitchells Plain Precinct.

Plans are in progress for further expansions in the Western Cape, including the Stellenbosch Precinct (Stellenbosch Central, Kayamandi and Cloetesville), as well as other national locations.

“The aim of placing trained legal professionals in community service stations is not only to improve the quality of case dockets presented to court, but also to strengthen the trust relationship between the police and the community, which is too often strained by frustrations related to unsuccessful prosecutions,” said Marais.

GI-TOC executive director Mark Shaw said the initiative had supported more than 300 projects worldwide, including in communities severely affected by organised crime and violence.

“One lawyer cannot solve these challenges alone, but Mitchells Plain is an important opportunity to test and refine a practical model that, if successful, can grow and be replicated elsewhere.

“Working with SAPS and provincial partners, this initiative is an important opportunity to strengthen policing and service delivery, while testing and refining a practical model that can grow over time.”

“Expanding the LPSP initiative to Mitchells Plain is a crucial step for our community,” said Mitchells Plain Safety and Development Forum chairperson Abie Isaacs.

“Technical flaws in statement- taking dismantle case dockets before they even reach a courtroom, robbing victims of justice and shattering public trust.

“Having legal mentors working side-by-side with our local officers gives them the real-world guidance needed to build watertight cases.

“Stronger dockets lead to successful prosecutions – and that is how we restore real safety and accountability for our residents and local businesses.”