Freeze on police hiring not necessary

Choking off recruitment of new officers into the Police force is hardly a move meant to improve the service. While there are some capacity constraints in training facilities and provision of housing, the advantages of a larger force outweigh the disadvantages of hiring to proposed targets.

An interim report prepared by a taskforce led by Justice Phillip Ransley proposes a freeze on hiring of new police officers among other measures to spur reform. It argues that political interference in recruitment, promotions and transfers is on such a scale there must be an immediate ‘moratorium’ on them. We do not doubt that influential individuals have long practiced corruption, abuse of office, tribalism and nepotism in influencing recruitments. But the interim solution, as we await the reform of the police service, should be strengthening recruitments. It should be a simple matter to have external observers invited to keep an eye on things.