By Bronwynne Staff Reporter
Politicians who urge police to follow a shoot-to-kill policy are sending a mixed message which could have dangerous consequences, researchers have warned.
This week, President Jacob Zuma said police did not have time to fire warning shots when apprehending armed criminals. He said police would have to start taking "extraordinary measures" to tackle the country's "abnormal" crime problem.
Andrew Faull, a researcher with the Institute for Security Studies's crime and justice programme, said such rhetoric was feeding the public's growing desire for vengeance and was "an easy way to score political points".
Similarly, now, if there were a referendum on the death penalty, 90 percent of people would want it, even though it had been shown not to be a real deterrent, he said.
"And it could be the same with lethal force. But government wants to give the impression they are taking crime seriously. It doesn't seem like we've been able to shake that addiction to violence. For 10 years, there was this non-violent approach. But now we are saying, things aren't working as well as we had hoped, we'll have to revert back to violence, and it's an easy answer."
Such talk could incite civilians who may be more likely use force to settle an altercation or when dealing with criminals.
Zuma's statement is the latest among politicians who have encouraged police to use force.
In September, police minister Nathi Mthethwa said police would "meet these thugs head-on and if it means we kill when we shoot, then so be it".
Mthethwa has held discussions with justice minister, Jeff Radebe about amendments to Section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which governs police's use of lethal force. The revisions will be presented to cabinet soon.
Faull cautioned that police officers might struggle to interpret the statements.
"There are mixed messages. There might be the thought that, yes, the president has said this, maybe I can hit this guy."
David Bruce, a senior researcher with the Criminal Justice Programme at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, agreed.
"The main problem is that these statements are poorly informed and are contributing to confusion. There was never a question of police having to fire warning shots when involved in life-and-death situations," said Bruce. "An issue is being created out of a problem that doesn't exist."
Such statements could aggravate issues like police brutality and the misuse of firearms, he said. "Police could start to believe they don't have to listen to the law, they can listen to the president…
"Amendments to the law need to be motivated for on their own merits. They have nothing to do with the issues being raised," Bruce said.
In Daily News.
CSVR is a multi-disciplinary institute that seeks to understand and prevent violence, heal its effects and build sustainable peace at the community, national and regional levels.
