FIVE Eastern Cape police stations are being investigated for failing to report criminal behaviour by their officers to the provincial police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) said.
IPID spokesman Moses Dlamini confirmed yesterday that the directorate’s investigation included management at the Whittlesea, Somerset East, Fort Beaufort, Alexandria and Storms River police stations.
In addition, the directorate has another 110 cases on the roll while another 90 cases are with the Director of Public Prosecutions awaiting decisions on whether to prosecute the officers involved.
These criminal cases include allegations of torture and the assault of prisoners.
The IPID Act of 2011 came into effect in April. It compels police station management to report allegations of police brutality to the IPID offices within 24 hours.
Dlamini said the Eastern Cape office had seen a "growing number” of assault and torture cases in recent months.
Experts welcomed the new legislation saying it was a "massive step” in the right direction and provided the watchdog – previously known as the Independent Complaints Directorate – with the "necessary teeth” to investigate controversial cases.
