Opening a Case – KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Refusal by SAPS members to assist complainants to open criminal dockets

In light of the apparent occurrences of difficulty in registering cases with the police all members and citizens should be aware of the following National instruction with regard to SAPS members opening cases or registering a criminal offence.

 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A COMPLAINANT

1. It has been reported that members stationed at various police stations are refusing to open cases at times due to some of the following reasons:

• The complainant cannot identify the suspect by name.
• The complainant did not bring the suspect to the police station.
• The crime did not happen within the station’s boundary.
• The member who is attending to the complainant does not think that is serious enough. Complainants are told to resolve the issue with the suspect.

2. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. All complaints and reports made by the public receive immediate attention.

3. National Instruction 3 of 2011 regulates opening and registering of case dockets:

• Section 1 of the National Instruction: a member who receives the complaint must interview the complainant in order to see if the complaint meets the requirement for that specific crime.
• According to Section 2, Complainants must never be referred to another police station to lodge complaints of crime, even if the crime was committed in another police station area.
• Complainants or reporters of crime, whether the crime was committed in his/her station area or in the station area of another police station, are treated courteously and that a comprehensive affidavit is taken from the complainant or reporter of the crime.
• All complaints and reports made by the public receive immediate attention.
• Cluster Commanders and Station Commanders must ensure that all members who do not comply with National instruction 3 of 2011 are subjected to disciplinary steps.

Members of Public – Please Report if SAPS members refuse to open a case for you!

Lodge complaints and reports to:

• SAPS National Complaint Centre:

        Tel: 0800 333 177 or 0860264487

        Email: complaintsnodalpoint@saps.gov.za

• KwaZulu Natal Complaints Centre:

        Tel: 032 325 5951 / 4886 or 079 877 6536

        Email: KZN.ServiceComplaints@saps.gov.za

• WhatsApp & Telegram 082 759 2590
• MYSAPS Application by selecting “Service Complaints” option

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