The police service needs to be overhauled. Employing more people will not help because many people join the force because they are unemployed and need salaries. Not because they are patriotic and want to eradicate crime.

The police service needs to be overhauled. Employing more people will not help because many people join the force because they are unemployed and need salaries. Not because they are patriotic and want to eradicate crime.

We will experience more crime involving the police in 2010 and beyond. The high levels of recruitment by the police service every year is a joke and will only contribute to more criminality.

I am not against job creation for fellow citizens, but I do not think thorough background checks and psychometric testing is carried out on recruits.

Crime needs to be tackled by the community in close collaboration with the police. A major challenge is police involvement in crime, harbouring criminals, engaging in undercover operations with or for criminals, taking bribes, selling dockets, and so on.

If the allegations levelled against national police commissioner, Jackie Selebi, are true, what message will it send to junior police officers?

Corruption is rife in the police service and I am not surprised that ordinary citizens are losing faith in them. Criminals are hiding behind police uniforms. Selebi must defend himself and clear his name, but I believe there is no smoke without fire.

Paseka Maleka, Maboloka