The draft bill aims to amend the South African Police Service Act of 1995 in order to establish a legal framework for policing aligned to the Constitution of 1996, principles laid down in the National Development Plan 2030, to align the act with the White Paper on Policing of 2016, the White Paper on Safety and Security of 2016, the Community Policing Policy and the Policy on a Single Police Service, in order to contribute to the effective and efficient combating of crime.
The draft bill proposes to delete certain sections of the South African Police Service Act of 1995 that the Constitutional Court found to be unconstitutional.
It also seeks to amend certain provisions of the Regulation of Gatherings Act that the Court also found unconstitutional in the Mlungwana judgment.
The draft bill provides for the setting up of the Intelligence Division of the Police Service in terms of the South African Police Service Act of 1995.
The draft bill also provides for integrity testing of recruits to the Police Service as well as lifestyle audits in respect of members of the Service and conflict of interest.
The proposed legislation also seeks to increase the penalty for certain crimes relating to the abuse of police equipment.
