Complaints against police increase

Arron Nyamayaro

NATIONAL police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, has revealed that complaints against the police have been increasing due to some officers demanding money from people to take their reports.

Speaking to Community Relations and Liaison Officers (CRLO) in Harare yesterday, Ass-Comm Nyathi implored officers to be wary of engaging in corrupt activities and loose talk during crime awareness campaigns.

He said the increasing number of complaints against police stemming from poor service delivery is damaging the reputation of the organisation, and officers underperforming should be held accountable rather than needlessly defended.

Defending such individuals, he said, only fosters further misconduct and erodes public trust.

“It is disheartening to hear of some CRLOs engaging in corrupt activities.

“We must be mindful of our words during crime awareness campaigns, guard against corrupt activities and loose talk.

“I implore you to become advocates for good customer service and ensure that our clients are treated with respect and attention.

“We have received numerous reports of clients being turned away or harassed by our police officers at roadblocks.

“Some station details even demand money from clients in order to take down their reports. While I will not mention specific station names, it is essential that we work together to address this issue.

“What is even more concerning is our inability to effectively manage these complaints, resulting in people complaining about the outcomes of their complaints,” said Ass-Comm Nyathi.

He encouraged CRLOs to take full advantage of opportunities provided by the Staff College to enhance their knowledge and skills, saying it helps them even after leaving the police.