Popcru: Uneven allocation of resources leaves many police stations vulnerable
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) says an uneven allocation of resources and staff are to blame for the increase in attacks at police stations.
The Malamulele police station in Limpopo came under attack on Sunday evening, with a gang of more than 10 armed robbers ambushing the station and holding officers hostage.
Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo says the suspects fled with police-issued weapons.
“They robbed the station of four R5 rifles, five short guns and four service pistols. It is understood these officers were then forcefully locked at the back of a police vehicle, and after that, further attacks were conducted at nearby filling stations.”
At the time of the attack there were five officers were on duty, says the union.
They are presiding over an area which covers a population of approximately half a million people.
“This brazen attack takes place at a time when there have been many vulnerabilities with regards to the integrity of police stations, dominantly those situated outside affluent areas, with challenges around the uneven allocation of resources and staff shortages at a peak,” says Mamabolo.
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