STANDING ORDER (GENERAL) 28

Transcription

1 STANDING ORDER (GENERAL) 28 DUTIES OF A STATION COMMANDER 1. Background (1) The purpose of this Order is to regulate the duties and responsibilities of a station commander, which is to manage and maintain the operational and support functions in order to ensure an effective and efficient policing service to the community in his or her policing area. (2) A station commander must support the relevant Provincial Commissioner in order to ensure that duties and responsibilities entrusted to the Provincial Commissioner, in respect of his or her province, is complied with in his or her station area. 2. Definitions In this Order, unless the context otherwise indicates (a) Community Policing Forum means a forum established in accordance with the South African Police Service Act, 1995 (Act No 68 of 1995); (c) (d) data integrity means the correlation between reported crime incidents and information captured on the respective information and technology management system; detention facilities mean a police cell, lock-up or temporary detention facility which is under the control of the Service; and station area means the demarcated area allocated to a police station for purposes of policing. 3. Roles and Responsibilities (1) A Station Commander is held strictly responsible for the effective and efficient management of all resources allocated to the police station. (2) The responsibilities of the Station Commander entail the following (a) the neat and professional appearance of all members; the good conduct of all members; (c) the work performance of all members; (d) the behaviour and discipline of all members; (e) the control and maintenance of all government property, both on personal and state property account; (f) the appearance, maintenance and control of buildings and premises at the station; Division: Visible Policing V Page 1 of 7

2 (g) (h) (i) ensure proper command and control over all resources; the prevention, combatting and investigation of crime in the station area; and ensure that Standing Orders and other instructions are adhered to and strictly complied with by all members under his or her command. (3) The following matters demand particular attention and every station commander must (a) manage the implementation and execution of crime prevention measures and intervention programmes in accordance with the strategies, priorities and regulatory framework of the Service. establish and maintain a functioning Community Policing Forum and engage with other non-governmental organisations and community partnerships to promote community initiatives and enhance service delivery; (c) manage the rendering of all policing services at the Community Service Centre and the related duties to ensure effective client satisfaction service delivery; (d) manage the provisions of a specialised policing service to ensure effective detention management; (e) manage an effective investigative service to deal with crime committed within the station area in accordance with the strategies, priorities and regulatory framework of the Service; (f) manage and control the human, physical, and financial resources of the station; (g) compile and maintain Station Orders in accordance with organisational directives; (h) chair the relevant crime and managerial related meetings as scheduled (i) ensure that all crime reported in the station area receives the necessary attention (j) institute a strategic plan of the Service which entails the organisational priorities according to the annual performance plan and the relevant risks; (k) supervise correspondence, registers and records and ensure that they are kept up to date and in accordance with instructions and, when closed, are properly filed away; (l) ensure the data integrity on all police related information technology management systems, such as the CAS and the Global Access Control system and its sub-sections, to ensure data integrity; (m) ensure that case dockets and First Information of Crime forms (SAP 4) are, when closed, filed away in proper order and that none are missing from the archives; Division: Visible Policing V Page 2 of 7

3 (n) (o) (p) (q) (r) (s) (t) (u) ensure that instructions regarding to safes are complied with and that the contents of the safe are correct and in order; ensure that the instructions dealing with discipline in single quarters are being obeyed; ensure that station and room inventories are properly kept and that government property and vehicles are used only in accordance with organisational instructions and that they are at all times properly cared for; ensure weekly inspections in the single quarters, mess, kitchen, bathrooms, toilet facilities and the premises and buildings in general, and that an entry in the Occurrence Book is made thereafter; perform in person daily inspection of the detention facilities and conforms him or herself with the Custody Register (SAPS 14) entries; appoint the respective commanders or representatives in accordance with the relevant organisational directives; allocate members to the various reliefs in order to perform the various operational policing functions and determine the duty roster in order to ensure effective rendering of services in accordance with the regulatory framework of the Service; and gather evidence to be submitted at departmental trials and Boards of Inquiry. (4) The Station Commander must explain, or ensure that it is explained, all organisational orders and instructions to those under his or her command and ensure that all members at the station have access to these orders and instructions if they wish to refer to them at any time. (5) He or she must ensure that all members under his command at the station are conversant regarding the functions, duties and powers of a Community Service Centre Commander. Members at a station must be given the opportunity to perform duties in the Community Service Centre to gaining practical experience in connection therewith. (6) The Station Commander's instructions to subordinates in connection with any particular task or duty which has to be performed or any case which has to be investigated must be detailed and he or she must ensure that the members for whom they are intended understand and execute them properly. He or she must ensure that members at the station familiarise themselves with the content of all the official directives and relevant legislation regularly, in order to promote efficiency in the Service. (7) As far as neatness, cleanliness and courtesy are concerned, the Station Commander must set an example to the members under his or her command. His or her general conduct and behaviour in public and private life must be that of a law-abiding citizen of the community. He or Division: Visible Policing V Page 3 of 7

4 she must do his or her best to ensure that subordinates are always polite, courteous and, when necessary, assist the members of the community in all policing related matters and general enquiries. (8) The Station Commander must comply with the organisational grievance procedure in accordance with the relevant National Head Office directives irrespective of whom the grievance is against. He or she must ensure that a grievance lodged against him or her is forwarded to his or her commander. (9) If the Station Commander's conduct and behaviour throughout are correct and consistent he or she needs not, in the event of having to report a subordinate for any offence or misconduct, fear any accusation or recrimination. Although he or she must maintain sound human relations, he or she must avoid forfeiting the respect of his or her subordinates by being unduly familiar with them. (10) The Station Commander must immediately take steps to prevent and to rectify any mistake, neglect of duty, lack of diligence or initiative, misconduct or incompetence on the part of any of his or her subordinates. Where necessary he or she must report such misconduct in writing to his or her commander. Should any member partake in any activity of whatever nature which may be a discredit to the Service or should he or she form associations which may harm the image of the Service, the Station Commander must take suitable steps to put an end to it and, if he or she cannot rectify the matter, it must be reported in writing to his or her commander. (11) (a) If any serious crime occurs where expert assistance is required, he or she must as soon as possible contact the relevant functionary in order that a member of a specialised unit, as the case may be, be dispatched to render the assistance required. He or she must, in combatting crime and maintaining law and order, utilise his or her human and physical resources as effectively as possible, so as to ensure effective policing and to promote public confidence in the Service. (12) (a) He or she must immediately report any actual or suspected serious disturbance, act of terrorism, treason, faction fight, riot, strike, natural disaster or any other incident which is likely to affect the safety of the State and request the necessary assistance, if required, so that his or her commander may make the necessary arrangements. In all emergency situations, he or she is expected to act calmly and without hesitation, utilising the services of the members Division: Visible Policing V Page 4 of 7

5 available to the best of his or her ability and judgement, and to take command and control of these situations in order to ensure effective service delivery. (13) The Station Commander must peruse the Occurrence Book daily and must ensure that the required arrangements regarding entries that need further attention are made. These aspects must be highlighted by means of a personal entry in the Occurrence Book which must be signed by him or her. (14) The Station Commander must ensure that all registers which are used on a daily basis at the station are checked by means of first level inspections. When the first level inspection of registers is undertaken by a senior member or senior members of his or her personnel, the Station Commander must personally check all registers, books, forms and functions performed by staff and line functionaries once a month by means of a second level inspection to ascertain that the inspections are carried out. If the second level inspection are undertaken by Visible Policing, Crime Investigation or Support Commanders, the Station Commander must peruse and countersign the inspections to ascertain that the inspections are carried out efficiently. Monthly inspections are performed unless provided for otherwise under other instructions or standing orders e.g. Standing Order (Financial). All these inspections must be, without exception, thoroughly executed. (15) Should there be any irregularities, the Station Commander must immediately take the necessary steps to rectify them, point them out to those members involved and give further guidance and training. (16) A Station Commander who is an officer has to close completed registers and files, including the financial registers, at the station or have them closed off by officers under his or her command. Every signature has to be identified by means of print or a stamp. (17) The Station Commander must ensure that members under his or her command are inspected by senior members with regard to their firearms and ammunition, equipment and mechanical transport before they go on duty and also when they return before going off duty. An Occurrence Book entry to this effect must be made to certify that the on and off duty parade was held according to the organisational directives. He or she must also ensure that all the subordinates are properly and neatly attired in accordance with the Dress Orders of the Service. Uniform and equipment that are not readily worn or utilised, must be kept in a serviceable condition. Division: Visible Policing V Page 5 of 7

6 (18) It is emphasised that the most important part of a Station Commander's duties is that of supervising all aspects of policing duties. He or she must ensure that the administrative duties at his station are carefully and thoroughly carried out, but he or she must, however, not be bound to his or her office to such an extent that he or she will not be in a position to give any or very little attention to the functional duties and powers as contained in the strategic plan and the annual performance plan of the Service. (19) It will depend, to a great extent, on the managerial capabilities of the Station Commander whether operational and support policing functions are carried out smoothly and whether those serving under his or her command are functioning effectively, whether individually or as members of a team. The Station Commander must, under always lead by example in rendering a policing service to the community. (20) The Station Commander must visit the station after hours in accordance with the directives issued by the Divisional Commissioner: Visible Policing. (21) (a) He or she must inspect the firearms and ammunition on the personal inventory of members under his or her command or let it be inspected by another senior member at least four times a year, and any loss or deficiency must immediately be reported. The relevant investigations regarding the loss must be performed. At least twice a year, just before the parade inspection, he or she must obtain all the unserviceable equipment of every member under his or her command and must present it for examination during the parade inspection. This will ensure that members always have serviceable equipment at their disposal. (22) (a) At a station where no detective capacity exists and crime in the station area is investigated by Visible Policing members, and at a station where a non-commissioned officer is in command of the investigation personnel, the Station Commander (i) is responsible for the supervision of police activities which are related to the investigation of crime. He or she must personally supervise the members and render assistance to and advise them in that regard. Serious crimes in the station area must be investigated under his or her personal supervision; (ii) is personally responsible for the checking of all case dockets, inquest dockets and enquiries. Division: Visible Policing V Page 6 of 7

7 (iii) In addition to the checking of dockets, must carry out on a monthly basis a complete inspection of all case dockets, inquest dockets and relevant enquiries. All registers, files, other official documents and functions performed by the personnel assigned for investigation purposes, must also be checked during such an inspection. At a station where there is a commissioned officer in command of the investigation personnel, the Station Commander must check at least 30 dockets of serious crime committed monthly to ensure that inspections are performed. 4. HANDING OVER CERTIFICATE When taking over a station on appointment or transfer, the Station Commander must check all government property, members personal property, moneys, prisoners and property, exhibits, found property, etc, with the relevant registers. He or she must also examine the premises to ensure that everything is in order and must, in accordance with SO(S) 21, complete a Handing-over Certificate [SAP 342(a)] and forward it to his or her commander. Any deficiency, defect or irregularity, must be reported immediately by the Station Commander to his commander. The Station Commander must also complete a handing-over certificate with regard to the safes on the station s inventory in accordance with the directives of the Service. Division: Visible Policing V Page 7 of 7