THE police ministry has condemned incidents of police brutality.

Spokesman Zweli Mnisi said yesterday: "We have emphasised over the years that the duty of the police, whether the tactical response team or whoever, is to protect society and not become a nuisance to society. We do not need and will never tolerate cowboys in this organisation. We want dedicated and disciplined officers who respect the Batho Pele Principles."

Mnisi reiterated that the unit has helped to reduce serious crimes particularly cash-in-transit, heists and bank robberies.

"The call to disband the unit must be clearly looked at and we can't disband it. The public have shown confidence and applauded the unit when it helped to foil and arrest criminals involved in serious crimes across the country.

"The fight against crime is not an event where you organise, deliver and wrap up. The battle is ongoing. That is why we need more arsenal, more resources and mobilisation of society to join this warfare," said Mnisi.

He urged society not to generalise and portray officers' isolated bad behaviour as a reflection of the SAPS.