‘Biometric register is wasteful’

Durban - A proposed multimillion-rand national biometric register to monitor police officers clocking in and out has been slammed as waste of taxpayers’ money and a poor reflection of the command and control systems in place.

The national project is being piloted at the Chatsworth and Loop Street (Pietermaritzburg) police stations.

National police spokesman Brigadier Phuti Setati refused to comment on the biometric register, saying it was still in the “test phase”.

Stokkie Ngwenya, national negotiator of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, said they were unaware of the biometric register being piloted and that it would be investigated.

A Chatsworth police source said the system had been installed early this year, but that it was not fully operational.

“Some police officers use the system to book on and off duty. Others just bypass it,” he said. “It started with a bang and has fizzled out completely now.”

He said the system needed to be monitored by the station commander.

“Police officers have to book on duty in the presence of a commander… You have to scan in your thumbprint, and personal details, including the police officer’s picture, come up on a screen.”

Firearms with full serial numbers also have to be scanned into the system.

This is done by manually entering the serial number into the computer. The serial number has to match the officer’s profile.

“If an officer is late on duty or leaving early, a full explanation has to be given. If these details are omitted and the firearm is not scanned, a police officer cannot book on duty.”

The source said that of the more than 250 policemen and women at the Chatsworth police station, less than half had used the biometric register since it was installed.

“This system is difficult, especially for those of us who work the beat and have detective duties. We do not have a set time to start or finish. This is not a 8am to 4pm job. The hours are unpredictable.”

He said that while the system was being piloted they were still obliged to fill in the manual register and get their daily pocketbooks signed by their commanders.

Johan Burger, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, said the introduction of a biometric register was a reflection of how poor the command and control systems in the police service were.

“Police should be disciplined with excellent control and command structures. Introducing such systems shows how the command chain has deteriorated over the years.”

Burger said three key factors contributed to this situation. The first was the appointment of people into positions they were not qualified for. Second, as a result of expansion the police had forfeited quality for quantity. The third was the deterioration of internal oversight mechanisms over the years – including the closure of district offices.

“The closure of the district offices resulted in the set-up of area offices. Now there are too many police stations and provinces have little or no control over them.”

Burger said many station commanders lacked the capacity or capability to make informed decisions.

“I doubt the success of this electronic system. It would be a better option to restore the oversight functions at stations. The proper chain of command at stations is vital.”

DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard agreed, but added the move would help curb the high absenteeism rate in the police force. She said it was shocking that money had to be spent on tracking movements and possible criminal behaviour by some police officers.

“If there was adequate management at stations, there would be no need for such systems. I have no doubt millions of rand will be spent on testing this project.” She said the success of the system would depend on its monitoring.

Daily News