Western Cape Premier Winde launches lawyers in police stations project

The Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, and the Community Safety and Police Oversight MEC, Anroux Marais, have officially launched the "Lawyers in Police Stations Project" in collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC). The goal of this project is to address the severe resourcing constraints faced by many Western Cape and national police stations, which significantly impact service delivery.

Premier Winde emphasized the importance of effective policing at the station level and the need to support the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the criminal justice system. The initiative, which began in March 2025 at Grassy Park SAPS, will see a trained legal professional stationed at police stations full-time for three years. The primary objective is to enhance the technical skills and capacity of station staff, thereby improving the quality of police work and strengthening the rule of law.

Under this initiative, the legal professionals will provide ongoing mentoring and capacity-building to police personnel, focusing on improving the technical skills and case preparation of officers rather than interfering with their daily duties. The project aims to strengthen the relationship between the police and the community, particularly in areas where frustrations related to unsuccessful prosecutions are common.

By helping officers build watertight cases, the initiative seeks to ensure successful prosecutions and restore public trust in the justice system.

Mark Shaw, Executive Director of GI-TOC, highlighted that over 300 global projects in communities facing severe organised crime and violence have been supported by the organization. The initiative's success relies on the strength of the rule of law, effective local policing, and community trust, all of which this project is designed to bolster alongside SAPS and provincial partners.

Mitchells Plain, a location plagued by high levels of serious and organised crime, will serve as the initial testbed for the project. Abie Isaacs, Chairperson of the Mitchells Plain Safety and Development Forum, stressed the importance of expanding the initiative to Mitchells Plain to refine a practical model that can be replicated in other areas.

Technical errors in statement-taking have been identified as a significant issue, undermining case dockets before they reach court and damaging public trust. By having legal mentors guide officers, the project aims to construct solid cases, leading to successful prosecutions and increased safety and accountability in the community.