More police officers should be working towards specialising in different fields so that these skills can improve public safety.

This is the sentiment shared by Police Minister Bheki Cele as he addressed delegates at policing union, Popcru’s central executive gathering.

He says however, that the Covid-19 pandemic had affected the police services’ training programme.

Minister Cele says that 7000 new officers were meant to be trained last year, yet this has not happened, and this is the same case for 2021.

Considering the recent attacks on police officers, and the impact of the pandemic, a greater shortage of police resources is also expected.

[Header image: The Citizen / Jacques Nelles]